MANILA, Philippines: A Philippine court has found former first lady Imelda Marcos guilty of graft and ordered her arrest in a rare conviction among many corruption cases that she’s likely to appeal to avoid jail and losing her seat in Congress.
The anti-graft Sandiganbayan court sentenced the 89-year-old Marcos to serve 6 to 11 years in prison for each of the seven counts for violating an anti-corruption law when she illegally funneled about $200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s.
Neither Marcos nor anyone representing her attended Friday’s court hearing.
The court disqualified Marcos from holding public office but she can remain a member of the powerful House of Representatives while appealing the decision.
Her husband, Ferdinand Marcos, was ousted by a “people power” revolt in 1986 and died in 1989.
Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos convicted of graft, arrest ordered
Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos convicted of graft, arrest ordered
