In a landmark ruling, Álvaro Uribe, the former president of Colombia from 2002 to 2010, has been convicted of witness-tampering and fraud, becoming the first ex-Colombian president to face such charges. The court in Bogotá found the 73-year-old guilty of attempting to bribe witnesses linked to a separate investigation which scrutinized his alleged connections with right-wing paramilitary groups accused of committing human rights violations. Each of the charges carries a potential sentence of up to 12 years in prison.
Uribe has consistently maintained his innocence and is expected to appeal the ruling. The decision has garnered international attention, particularly from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who criticized the Colombian judiciary, suggesting it has been manipulated against Uribe. Rubio expressed his belief that Uribe's only wrongdoing was his dedication to defending Colombia.
The controversy surrounding Uribe dates back to 2012 when he initially accused leftist senator Iván Cepeda of attempting to frame him by linking him to paramilitary connections. However, instead of pursuing Cepeda’s claims, the Supreme Court opted to investigate Uribe himself, ultimately leading to allegations that he attempted to bribe imprisoned ex-combatants to disavow any ties to these paramilitary groups, which the court categorized as witness-tampering.
Supporters of Uribe protested outside the court following the verdict, reflecting the divided opinion surrounding the former president, who is credited with implementing a tough military strategy against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). While praised by allies in Washington for his firm stance on terrorism, critics condemn Uribe for insufficient progress in addressing deep-rooted socioeconomic disparities in Colombia.
Despite the conviction, negotiations with Farc for peace have continued, yielding a ceasefire in 2016, although violence remains prevalent from disarmed factions. The unfolding legal battle around Uribe raises questions about political accountability and the historical impacts of decades-long conflict in Colombia.
