Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was found guilty Monday of bribery and procedural fraud, marking the first major criminal conviction of a former Colombian leader in a case that has lasted for over a decade.
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Judge Sandra Heredia of a lower circuit court in Bogotá delivered the verdict against the 73-year-old conservative politician, who has dominated Colombian politics for the past quarter-century. Uribe was convicted of working with a lawyer in an unsuccessful attempt to bribe a former paramilitary fighter to retract damaging testimony.
The case centres on allegations that Uribe attempted to silence a former paramilitary who claimed the ex-president founded and financed a paramilitary group during the 1990s, amid Colombia’s protracted and violent internal conflict. The testimony threatened to undermine Uribe’s political legacy and raise questions about his role during one of the country’s most turbulent periods.
Judge Heredia rejected Uribe’s claims that some judges were biased against him and that authorities had illegally wiretapped his communications during the investigation, ruling that the surveillance was conducted legally.
During Uribe’s presidency from 2002 to 2010, he pursued an aggressive military campaign against leftist rebel groups, significantly weakening the largest organisation and bringing a level of security the nation had not experienced in years.
However, critics argue that his government’s tactics resulted in human rights violations against civilians and contend he supported right-wing paramilitary groups. They maintain he should be held accountable for these actions during the conflict.
The case has unfolded over 13 tumultuous years, with Uribe consistently maintaining his innocence. The former president has indicated he will appeal any adverse decision, a process that could extend for years and likely conclude at the Supreme Court level.
Earlier this month, Uribe characterised the proceedings against him as an “unjust judicial process,” reflecting his ongoing defiance of the charges that have shadowed his post-presidential years.
The conviction is the first time a former president has been found guilty of criminal charges. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for Colombia’s political landscape and ongoing efforts to address crimes committed during the country’s long internal conflict.
Featured image: Carlos Ortega (EFE)
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