Colombia’s former president Uribe sentenced to 12 years of house arrest  | World News

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest after being found guilty of bribing a public official and abusing the legal process, according to a court document seen Reuters and a source familiar with the case.ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO
Uribe, 73, was convicted on Monday Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia in a long-running case that began more than a decade ago. The sentencing will be officially announced in court on Friday.
The document, also reported local media, states that Uribe will pay a fine of $578,000.
Story continues below this ad

This is the first time a former Colombian president has been found guilty in court. The ruling comes ahead of Colombia’s 2026 presidential election, in which several politicians close to Uribe are expected to run.
The case could also affect Colombia’s ties with the United States. This week, US Senator Marco Rubio said the ruling shows the “weaponisation of Colombia’s judicial branch radical judges,” according to Reuters. Some analysts have warned the decision could lead to a reduction in US aid.
Uribe has always denied wrongdoing. He and his supporters argue the case is politically motivated. “This is a persecution,” they have said. But critics say the conviction is significant, as Uribe has long faced allegations of links to right-wing paramilitary groups but had never been convicted until now.
The case centres on accusations that Uribe tried to manipulate witnesses in a case against him.