Former Colombian President, Álvaro Uribe, has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest after being found guilty of witness tampering and procedural fraud, according to a legal source who spoke to AFP.
The landmark verdict, expected to be officially announced later Friday, marks the first time in Colombia’s history that a former head of state has been convicted of a crime and sentenced.
Uribe, who governed Colombia from 2002 to 2010, played a dominant role in shaping the country’s politics for decades.
Despite the conviction, the 73-year-old continues to insist on his innocence and is expected to file an appeal.
A judge on Monday declared Uribe guilty of two key charges: interfering with witnesses and procedural fraud.
The former president was accused of asking right-wing paramilitaries to provide false testimony denying any links to him.
During his time in office, Uribe spearheaded a fierce military campaign against the FARC guerrilla insurgency and drug cartels, a strategy that earned him praise from some sectors and criticism from others.
He remains a polarizing figure in Colombia. Supporters hail him for improving national security, while critics allege he maintained covert ties to right-wing paramilitary groups intent on eliminating leftist rebels.
Uribe’s influence stretches beyond Colombia’s borders.
A law-and-order hardliner, he was known for his close alliance with the United States, particularly with conservatives in Washington.
Reacting to the verdict, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the legal proceedings against Uribe, calling it an act of judicial overreach.
Rubio said the case represented “the weaponisation of Colombia’s judicial branch by radical judges,” though he offered no evidence to support his claims.
