Colombia's former president Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest after being found guilty of witness tampering, a historic first for a former head of state in the country. The 73-year-old, who led Colombia from 2002 to 2010, received the maximum sentence for interfering with witnesses and procedural fraud.
The case stems from allegations that Uribe asked rightwing paramilitaries to lie about their links to him. Prosecutors presented evidence of at least one ex-paramilitary fighter who claimed Uribe contacted him to change his story. The trial, which opened in May 2024, heard testimony from more than 90 witnesses.
Uribe, who remains a powerful figure in conservative politics, maintains his innocence and plans to appeal. He described the verdict as 'political vengeance.' The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, criticised the prosecution as judicial weaponisation, though he provided no evidence.
Despite the conviction, Uribe remains popular in Colombia, with recent polls naming him the country's best-loved politician. Supporters gathered outside the court chanting 'Uribe, innocent!' while wearing masks of his likeness.
The investigation began in 2018 and gained momentum under Attorney General Luz Camargo, appointed by President Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla and political rival of Uribe. Uribe also faces other legal challenges, including a preliminary investigation into a 1997 paramilitary massacre and a complaint in Argentina over alleged civilian executions during his presidency.
