AFP - Japanese prosecutors on Wednesday indicted three former sumo wrestlers for allegedly organising illegal gambling as the ancient sport reels from a series of scandals.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office said it had charged Tetsuya Yabushita, 29, Shunsaku Yamamoto, 35, and Sadahide Furuichi, 34, with profiting from illegal gambling in 2009 and 2010.
Furuichi's mother, Yoneko, 63, was also indicted for gambling on professional baseball games, which reportedly involved bookmakers linked to yakuza organised crime groups.
The indictments came a day after police for the first time ever sought criminal prosecutions of active sumo wrestlers in the gambling scandal.
Police on Tuesday handed files to prosecutors outlining claims that five active wrestlers, three patrons or financial supporters, and one member of a crime group were involved in gambling on baseball.
The ancient and highly ritualistic national sport of sumo has in recent years been shaken by a series of scandals over illegal drug use, brutal training methods and, in recent weeks, claims of bout-rigging.
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