Bogota - Saba:
A Colombian court on Friday placed former President Alvaro Uribe under house arrest for 12 years for witness tampering, according to an informed source.
A court document published by local media and confirmed by a source familiar with the case showed that Uribe, 73, who served as president from 2002 to 2010, was barred from holding any public office for more than eight years.
A Colombian court on Monday convicted Uribe of witness tampering and falsifying legal proceedings, making him the first former president in the South American country to be convicted in court.
Uribe, the first former president to be convicted and deprived of his liberty, informed the court that he intends to appeal his conviction. The investigation into Uribe began in 2018, a case that has seen numerous twists and turns amid repeated attempts by prosecutors to close the case.
His trial began in May 2024 and was broadcast live on local media, with more than 90 witnesses questioned. It received widespread attention as the presidential elections scheduled for May 2026 approached.
Alvaro Uribe, leader of the Democratic Center Party, is a pivotal figure in Colombian politics and holds significant influence within the right-wing opposition, which has led the opposition since Gustavo Petro came to power in 2022, becoming the country's first left-wing president.
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