An appeals court in Colombia has overturned the conviction of former President Álvaro Uribe for bribery and witness tampering, a decision that reverses a landmark ruling against the conservative strongman. Uribe, who governed from 2002 to 2010, had been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest in August after a six-month trial.
The case centred on allegations that Uribe attempted to influence witnesses who accused him of having links to a paramilitary group in the 1990s. The former president, now 73, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and described his conviction as political persecution, claiming the judge was biased.
During the appeal, Uribe's lawyers questioned the validity of the evidence presented at trial, arguing that his responsibility had not been 'unequivocally' proven. The appeals court agreed, overturning the conviction in a ruling issued on Tuesday.
Prosecutors now have the option to appeal Tuesday's decision to Colombia's Supreme Court. The case has drawn widespread attention in South America and tarnished the legacy of Uribe, who remains a polarising figure in the country.
