Imelda Marcos gets lengthy prison term
Imelda Marcos was found guilty of corruption yesterday and handed a lengthy prison term in a rare conviction for the former Philippines first lady accused with her late dictator husband of embezzling billions of dollars from state coffers.
However, it was unlikely 89-year-old Marcos would spend much time behind bars as she is allowed to appeal the ruling and can remain free on bail as long as the conviction is not final.
The verdict from the anti-graft Sandiganbayan court orders her to serve a minimum of six years behind bars for each of the seven charges that the Marcoses funnelled roughly $200 million through Swiss foundations decades ago.
This leaves her potentially facing decades in prison, however the exact length of the term was not immediately clear.
Ferdinand Marcos, who along with his cronies was accused of pilfering $10 billion from the Philippines, fled with his family to the US after a people's uprising ended his 20-year rule in 1986.
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