Former Colombian President, Álvaro Uribe, has been sentenced to 12 years under house arrest after being found guilty of procedural fraud and witness bribery.
The ruling marks an unprecedented moment in the country’s history, as Uribe becomes the first former head of state to face criminal conviction.
Judge Sandra Heredia of Bogotá’s 44th Criminal Court issued the sentence on Friday, four days after delivering a guilty verdict on the two charges. Uribe, however, was acquitted of a separate charge involving the alleged bribery of a prosecutor.
Uribe, now 73, held Colombia’s presidency from 2002 to 2010 and has maintained his innocence throughout. His legal defense has vowed to appeal the decision, continuing a legal battle that has unfolded over more than a decade and featured a 67-day trial.
The origins of the case trace back to 2012, when Uribe accused Senator Iván Cepeda of trying to link him to the formation of a paramilitary group. Cepeda, who is now a senator for the ruling Historic Pact coalition, denied the accusations.
In a significant reversal, Colombia’s Supreme Court opened an investigation into Uribe in 2018 over claims he had manipulated witnesses. After years of legal wrangling, the Prosecutor’s Office charged him in May 2024 with procedural fraud, bribery, and bribery in criminal proceedings.
Despite continued support from political allies, including former President Iván Duque, the conviction has been seen by others as a landmark in Colombia’s justice system.
“There is still a long way to go,” Senator Cepeda told CNN, underscoring that the legal process may not be over yet.
