A Manhattan judge sentenced the former secretary of shoe-obsessed former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos to two to six years in prison Monday for stealing a Claude Monet painting, selling it for $32 million and lying about it on her taxes.
“The evidence clearly shows Miss Bautista stole property from the Philippines government and Imelda Marcos,” said Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Renee White of Vilma Bautista who sat emotionless at the defense table.
“These were masterpieces by Claude Monet, Sisley and other well known and respected artists…She clearly sought to sell that artwork to benefit herself and her family.”
It took a Manhattan jury less than three hours to convict Bautista, 75, of tax fraud, conspiracy and offering a false instrument last November.
“She reported an income of $5,000 in a year she received $28 million,” the judge said sternly. “She was clearly being deceitful to the state and city and not reporting the sale and paying taxes that were rightfully due.”
White also ordered the frail-looking felon to pay restitution to New York State of $3,557,620.00 in unpaid taxes.
The one-time confidante of Marcos – whose 3,000 plus shoe collection became a symbol of her corrupt regime– stood briefly to make a statement.
“My lawyers have spoken for me. Thank you,” she said softy.
Bautista doesn’t have to face the music just yet. The judge allowed her to remain free on bail pending her appeal of the verdict.
Bautista stole four pieces of art from the Filipino mission housed in an Upper East Side townhouse in 1986 – the year her late husband President Ferdinand Marcos’ regime tumbled.
With the help of a pair of relatives who were also found guilty, Bautista sold Monet’s 1899 “Water-Lily Pond” for $32 million to a London art gallery in 2010. The gallery then sold the painting for $43 million to billionaire UK hedge fund manager Alan Howard who thought the painting was legit, his spokesman has said.
The pricey painting was just one of four Bautista was convicted of stealing and hiding for decades. The other valuable works include Monet’s “L’Englise et La Seine a Vetheuil,” Alfred Sisley’s “Langland Bay” and Albert Marquet’s “Le Cypres de Djenan Sidi Said.”
The current Philippines government has embarked on a campaign to recover valuable works of art that were acquired by Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos during his contentious reign.
At trial Attorney Susan Hoffinger argued that her client had written permission from 1991 to sell the works on behalf of Marcos but hadn’t gotten around to turning the proceeds over.
But the jury didn’t buy it. Bautista faced as much as 25 years but the judge took into account her age and ailing health.
Bautista’s two relatives Chaiyot Jansen Navalaksana, 37 and Pongsak Navalaksana, 40, were found guilty of illegally conspiring to sell the stolen works. They fled to Thailand before the trial began.