Álvaro Uribe, who served as Colombia's president from 2002 to 2010, has become the first ex-president in the nation’s history to be convicted of a crime. A Bogotá court found the 73-year-old guilty of witness-tampering and fraud—charges stemming from allegations of attempted bribery of witnesses linked to a separate investigation of his ties to notorious right-wing paramilitary groups. Each of these offenses carries a potential prison sentence of up to 12 years. Uribe, who has consistently maintained his innocence, is anticipated to appeal the ruling.
Ex-Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Convicted of Witness-Tampering
Ex-Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Convicted of Witness-Tampering
In a historic ruling, former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe faces a guilty verdict of witness-tampering and fraud.
The former president earned a reputation for aggressively combating the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), and has long denied associations with paramilitary factions. During the trial, which featured over 90 witness testimonies, Uribe reportedly shook his head in dismay as the verdict was announced. Uribe’s supporters have expressed outrage, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who criticized the judiciary's handling of the case, asserting that Uribe's only wrongdoing was his commitment to defending Colombia.
This legal battle has been ongoing since 2012, when Uribe accused leftist senator Ivan Cepeda of attempting to frame him as a way to link him to paramilitary groups. However, the Supreme Court instead investigated Uribe himself. He faces accusations of contacting imprisoned ex-combatants and attempting to influence their statements regarding their connections to paramilitary factions. Uribe asserts that his actions aimed to encourage these individuals to adhere to the truth.
Paramilitary groups, which emerged in Colombia during the 1980s, initially claimed to combat poverty, but many later collided with both state forces and the narcotics trade. While Uribe was lauded in Washington for his stern measures against Farc, he remains a controversial figure domestically, with critics arguing that he failed to address the country's issues of inequality and poverty. The peace agreement signed by Uribe's successor with Farc in 2016 has not eliminated ongoing violence from other disarmed groups in Colombia.
This legal battle has been ongoing since 2012, when Uribe accused leftist senator Ivan Cepeda of attempting to frame him as a way to link him to paramilitary groups. However, the Supreme Court instead investigated Uribe himself. He faces accusations of contacting imprisoned ex-combatants and attempting to influence their statements regarding their connections to paramilitary factions. Uribe asserts that his actions aimed to encourage these individuals to adhere to the truth.
Paramilitary groups, which emerged in Colombia during the 1980s, initially claimed to combat poverty, but many later collided with both state forces and the narcotics trade. While Uribe was lauded in Washington for his stern measures against Farc, he remains a controversial figure domestically, with critics arguing that he failed to address the country's issues of inequality and poverty. The peace agreement signed by Uribe's successor with Farc in 2016 has not eliminated ongoing violence from other disarmed groups in Colombia.
