Does the owner of ill-gotten wealth who repents and pledges to return it to its rightful owners fall under the general meaning of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying, "How can he be answered," if his only salary barely suffices to repay the amount, which might take years, and is he obligated to borrow to return the money?

If the repentance is sincere, we hope that you are not included in the general meaning of the aforementioned Hadith (definition), for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The one who repents from a sin is like one who has no sin." It is not obligatory for you to borrow money to return the amount, especially if you are unable to repay it. Indebtedness in this case is forbidden, unless the lender is aware of your situation.