Former Colombian President, Álvaro Uribe, has been handed a 12-year house arrest sentence following a conviction for procedural fraud and witness bribery, marking the first time a former president in the nation’s history has been criminally convicted.
Judge Sandra Heredia of Bogotá’s 44th Criminal Court delivered the ruling on Friday, just four days after finding Uribe guilty of the two charges.
However, he was cleared of a separate accusation involving the alleged bribery of a prosecutor.
Uribe, 73, who served as Colombia’s president from 2002 to 2010, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
His legal team, which has already declared an intention to appeal, maintained his innocence throughout the high-profile trial, which spanned 67 days.
The legal battle stretches back over a decade. In 2012, Uribe, then a prominent figure in the now-opposition Centro Democrático party, accused Senator Iván Cepeda, a member of the ruling Historic Pact coalition, of attempting to tie him to the formation of a paramilitary organization. Cepeda firmly denied the claims.
But the narrative took a dramatic turn in 2018 when Colombia’s Supreme Court launched its own investigation into Uribe over alleged witness tampering.
Following extensive inquiries and delays, the Prosecutor’s Office formally charged Uribe in May 2024 with procedural fraud, bribery, and bribery in criminal proceedings.
Though Uribe continues to receive backing from key political allies, including former President Iván Duque, others have hailed the verdict as a significant milestone in Colombia’s pursuit of justice.
Responding to the outcome, Senator Cepeda told CNN, “There is still a long way to go,” indicating that the legal process surrounding the case is far from over.
