Boratong widow gets 13 years for money laundering

MANILA, Philippines — A Pasig City court has sentenced Sheryl Boratong, widow of the late convicted drug lord Amin Imam Boratong, to up to 13 years in prison for money laundering.

In a 26-page decision obtained by reporters yesterday, Judge Annielyn Medes-Cabelis of the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 167 found Boratong guilty of violating Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Boratong was fined P3 million for six counts of money laundering.

The court also found bank manager Godofredo Medenilla guilty of the same offense for helping the Boratong couple in opening their accounts and transferring illicit funds.

The court sentenced Medenilla to up to six years in prison and ordered him to pay a P1.5-million fine.

Court records showed that Boratong deposited in a bank around P1.44 million in drug money.

In its ruling, the court said Boratong’s bank transactions from December 2005 to February 2006 could not be justified as she had no known source of income.

Boratong is being held at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong after she and Amin were convicted for maintaining a shabu tiangge or flea market in Pasig.

Last year, Amin allegedly died of COVID at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.