Álvaro Uribe, Colombia's former president, has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest for charges of witness tampering and fraud. Uribe, who served from 2002 to 2010 and remains influential, denies the allegations and plans to appeal.
Colombian Ex-President Álvaro Uribe Sentenced to House Arrest for Corruption
Colombian Ex-President Álvaro Uribe Sentenced to House Arrest for Corruption
The former leader faces 12 years of house arrest for witness tampering, marking a historic conviction in Colombia's political landscape.
Colombian former President Álvaro Uribe has received a poignant sentence of 12 years of house arrest after being found guilty of witness tampering and fraud. At the age of 73, he has made history as the first former head of state in Colombia to be convicted of a crime, significantly affecting the political narrative in the country.
Uribe, who served as president from 2002 to 2010, vehemently maintains his innocence and claims the legal proceedings against him are an attempt to “eliminate a voice for the democratic opposition.” In addition to the house arrest, he has been permanently barred from holding public office and has been fined $578,000 (£435,000).
The case that led to his conviction has lingered for over 13 years, alleging that Uribe's former lawyer, Diego Cadena, orchestrated a scheme to bribe imprisoned ex-paramilitaries to provide false testimonies exonerating the former president. Cadena is also facing charges but has denied the allegations and has testified in Uribe's defense.
Uribe's conviction has led to polarized reactions, including criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused the Colombian judiciary of being manipulated and expressed support for the former president's efforts to combat leftist adversaries in the nation.
Throughout his presidency, Uribe's hardline stance against leftist guerrilla groups, particularly the FARC, received accolades from the United States but drew criticism domestically for failing to address widespread inequality and poverty in Colombia.
While a peace agreement was established between FARC and Uribe's successor in 2016, violence and instability from disarmed factions in the country remain pressing issues. The ramifications of Uribe's conviction are likely to resonate throughout Colombia's political landscape, dividing public opinion and stirring debates over accountability and governance.
