Former Elephants head coach released on NT$80,000 bail

The prosecutors from Banciao, Taipei County found Nakakomi Shin, who had also been an ex-pitcher for the Brother Elephants, had a close relationship with Chuang You-lin, a former pro pitcher and the middle man in the “windscreen wiper” game-fixing ring.

Nakakomi was released at around 3 p.m. after paying a bail of NT$80,000 which the prosecutor agreed to reduce from the original NT$150,000 because Nakakomi was sacked by the Elephants last week and is now unemployed.

Hung Jui-ho, general manager of the Elephants, told the Chinese newspaper Apple Daily that he had heard of Nakakomi's contact with Chuang about one to two months ago. At that time, Nakakomi explained Chuang was only asking him about joining pro teams in Korea and Japan.

“There's nothing to say, a person must answer for the consequences of his own deeds,” Hung was quoted by the Apple Daily as saying, “for those who break the law, punishment is fit and due.”

Aviation Police officers at the Taoyuan International Airport intercepted Nakakomi Monday afternoon en route to Japan after what appeared to be a dramatic chase.

Prosecutors contracted Nakakomi earlier to hand him the summons for investigation. Nakakomi hung up on them after saying: “I am busy.” Prosecutors then rushed to Nakakomi's dormitory and found that the former coach was already gone.

According to the dormitory security guard, Nakakomi got into a taxi with several pieces of luggage. Afraid that he might flee the country, prosecutors sent investigators to Taoyuan with a newly issued arrest order while faxing a detention notice to the immigration officers at the airport to stop Nakakomi from leaving.

Nakakomi was later arrested while trying to board a 4:35 p.m. flight to Ryukyu Islands in Japan. He claimed he was simply going home as his contract had been terminated and was unaware of any travel restriction imposed on him. He was later sent to Banciao District Prosecutors' Office in Taipei County.

Nakakomi, who was among the most recognized names from Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) who were involved in the game-rigging scandal, joined the Elephants in 2002 as a pitcher and rose up the ranks from pitcher coach to the head coach this year. He was generally well-liked by fans and players from the team. Under his helm, the Elephants climbed up all the way from being the weakest team in the league in 2009 to participating in this year's championship match.

According to the United Evening News, prosecutors found Nakakomi's strategy in the match between the Elephants and the La New Bears at Sept. 9 questionable. He kept Li Hao-jen, who was also involved in game-fixing charges, on the pitching mound even after he had walked several hitters in a row. In that match Li gave away 10 runs after pitching less than four innings and the Elephants lost 13-5 to the Bears.

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