Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Sentenced to 12 Years of House Arrest

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was sentenced Friday to 12 years of house arrest after being found guilty of procedural fraud and witness bribery, becoming the first former head of state in Colombia’s history to be criminally convicted.

Judge Sandra Heredia of Bogotá’s 44th Criminal Court announced the sentence just four days after delivering the guilty verdict. Uribe, 73, had pleaded not guilty and was acquitted on a separate charge of allegedly bribing a prosecutor. His defense attorney has vowed to appeal the ruling.

The case dates back to 2012, when Uribe, then a member of the now-opposition Centro Democrático party, accused Senator Iván Cepeda, of the ruling Historic Pact coalition, of attempting to link him to the creation of a paramilitary group. Cepeda denied the allegations.

In 2018, the Colombian Supreme Court shifted the focus to Uribe himself, opening an investigation into alleged witness tampering. After years of legal proceedings, the Colombian Prosecutor’s Office formally charged Uribe in May 2024 with procedural fraud, bribery in criminal proceedings, and bribery.

The trial lasted 67 days and concluded earlier this week. Uribe maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, a stance supported by former President Iván Duque and other opposition figures. Meanwhile, government allies hailed the verdict as a victory for justice.

Senator Cepeda celebrated the decision on Tuesday, telling CNN there was still “a long way to go” as the case may face further appeals. Uribe, who served as Colombia’s president from 2002 to 2010, remains under house arrest while his legal team prepares its challenge to the ruling.

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Source: NDTV‍