Colombia Ex-President Uribe Sentenced 12-Year House Arrest

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was sentenced to 12 years of house arrest for bribery and witness tampering in a landmark case that has deeply polarized Colombia. The conviction, handed down by Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia, also includes a ban from public office for over eight years and a fine of approximately $578,000. Uribe, who governed from 2002 to 2010 and led a military offensive against leftist guerrillas, has denied wrongdoing, calling the case political persecution and announcing his intention to appeal. The charges relate to accusations of bribing witnesses to conceal his alleged ties to right-wing paramilitary groups in the 1990s, a claim he has long rejected. This conviction marks the first time a Colombian ex-president has been found guilty at trial, occurring amid significant national and international attention, with some U.S. officials criticizing the verdict as judicial overreach. The outcome could influence Colombia's political landscape ahead of the 2026 presidential election and its relations with the United States.