Imelda Marcos convicted of graft\, court orders her arrest

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Imelda Marcos convicted of graft, court orders her arrest

Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, who is now a congresswoman, adjusts her glasses after attending the first Mass of the newly built Santuario de San Ezekiel Moreno Catholic church in Las Pinas city, south of Manila, in this file photo.

Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, who is now a congresswoman, adjusts her glasses after attending the first Mass of the newly built Santuario de San Ezekiel Moreno Catholic church in Las Pinas city, south of Manila, in this file photo.   | Photo Credit: Reuters

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The court disqualified Marcos from holding public office but she can remain a member of the powerful House of Representatives while appealing the decision.

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.