Former Marcos aide charged with secretly keeping Monet painting
Source: Reuters
Former Marcos aide charged with secretly keeping Monet painting
Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:14 GMT
Source: reuters // Reuters
By Karen Freifeld
NEW YORK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The former secretary to Imelda Marcos was indicted Tuesday in New York on charges of conspiring to sell artwork that the former Phillipine first lady acquired during her husband's presidency, including a Claude Monet water-lily painting.
The paintings, which the Philippine government claims it owns, disappeared around the time Phillipine President Ferdinand Marcos was forced from power a quarter century ago.
The ex-aide, Vilma Bautista, 74, a New York resident, was charged on Tuesday with conspiracy and other crimes. She pleaded not guilty in Manhattan state court and was released on $175,000 bond.
"Unfortunately, our client is in the middle of a dispute between the Phillipine government and the Marcos family that has been going on for years," attorney Fran Hoffinger said after the arraignment. "This is a civil dispute. It does not belong in criminal court."
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