Mrs. Marcos Wears Medical Monitors
Former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos was back in court Monday at her racketeering trial, wearing heart and blood pressure monitors.
She had left the courtroom pale and sobbing during testimony Friday and her illness was diagnosed as high blood pressure.
She sat holding rosary beads as U.S. Customs Service official Leslie Kinney described a suitcase seized from the Marcoses containing negotiable stocks.
Kinney also identified 22 cardboard cartons, each about a foot square, that he said contained currency totaling 27 million Philippine pesos--worth about $1.4 million in 1986.
He said two other suitcases contained mostly jewelry. Pictures of the jewelry were given to the jury after the judge agreed with a defense request that the suitcases and one of the boxes, on view at the front of the courtroom, need not be opened.
Marcos, 60, is charged with racketeering, conspiracy, fraud and obstruction of justice for allegedly plotting with her husband to divert more than $200 million from the Philippines treasury for personal use.
The money was allegedly used for art and real estate investments around the world.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
