Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been convicted of witness tampering, making him the first ex-leader of the country to be found guilty of a criminal offense. The court’s decision caps a decade-long legal battle marked by political tension and national introspection.
Uribe’s legal troubles began after accusing Senator Iván Cepeda of falsely tying him to paramilitary groups. The court dismissed the accusations and instead investigated Uribe’s alleged attempts to manipulate witnesses.
Evidence emerged that Uribe contacted imprisoned fighters, asking them to revise their accounts. Despite denying wrongdoing, testimony and corroborating records proved influential in securing his conviction.
The trial’s conclusion, which came after 90 witnesses testified, now leaves Uribe facing a lengthy prison sentence and a tarnished legacy. The outcome is being hailed by many as a turning point in the fight against political impunity.