Colombia’s former conservative president Álvaro Uribe Vélez has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest following a court ruling that found him guilty of abuse of procedure and bribery of a public official. The sentence, handed down Friday by Judge Sandra Heredia, also bars Uribe from holding public office for over eight years and includes a fine exceeding $840,000.
Uribe, a staunch opponent of Colombia’s current far-left leadership under President Gustavo Petro, will serve his sentence at his residence in Rionegro, Antioquia. The court’s decision stems from a convoluted legal saga that began in 2012, when Uribe accused leftist Senator Iván Cepeda of bribing witnesses to falsely tie him to paramilitary groups. In a dramatic reversal in 2018, the courts dismissed Uribe’s claims and instead launched an investigation into Uribe himself for similar misconduct.
Critics, including multiple Colombian legislators and U.S. officials, have decried the trial as politically motivated. Colombian Senator Paloma Valencia accused Cepeda of coercing prison inmates into testifying against Uribe in exchange for judicial perks, describing the trial as a product of Colombia’s radical left.
Uribe denounced the ruling during Friday’s hearing, describing it as a political attack that has severely damaged his reputation. “Monday’s damage to my reputation was something that, in front of such a large audience, few Colombians have ever suffered,” Uribe said.
Uribe has appealed the ruling and maintains his innocence. He has posted a copy of his 30-page appeal and video footage of the court hearing online. His legal team is expected to file further appeals with Colombia’s Supreme Court on August 13.
Senator Cepeda responded to the backlash by accusing Uribe’s Democratic Center party of waging a campaign of “judicial interference” and claimed—without presenting evidence—that statements by U.S. figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are part of an international effort to intimidate Judge Heredia.
In response, the Democratic Center announced peaceful rallies in support of Uribe scheduled for Thursday in over 20 Colombian cities, as well as in Miami, Houston, and five Spanish cities including Madrid and Barcelona.
