Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Convicted of Witness Tampering and Bribery in Historic Ruling

Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe

In a landmark verdict on Monday, a Colombian judge found former President Álvaro Uribe guilty of abuse of process and bribery of a public official in a long-running witness tampering case, making him the first ex-president in the country’s history to be convicted at trial.

Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia, who presided over the case, delivered the decision over the course of nearly ten hours, ultimately clearing Uribe of a separate bribery charge. Her full ruling, reportedly 1,000 pages long, comes after more than a decade of judicial proceedings that have deeply divided public opinion in Colombia.

“This is not the end of this process,” said Juan Felipe Amaya, a member of Uribe’s legal team. “The appeal is next, and we are going to demonstrate that this decision, which we respect, is wrong.” Uribe’s attorneys confirmed they would appeal the ruling and requested he remain free during the appeal process.

The judge is expected to issue a formal sentence on Friday. Each conviction carries a prison term ranging from six to twelve years. Due to Uribe’s age—he is 73—he could be eligible for house arrest if the sentence is upheld.

Uribe, who served as president from 2002 to 2010 and later as a senator, joined the hearing via video link alongside one of his lawyers, Jaime Granados. Another lawyer, Jaime Lombana, appeared in person. Heredia opened the hearing with a firm statement: “Justice does not kneel before power. It is at the service of the Colombian people.”

The courtroom ruling comes less than a year before Colombia’s 2026 presidential election, where many of Uribe’s allies and political proteges are vying for the nation’s highest office. The conviction is expected to have a significant impact on the election landscape.

Uribe’s supporters rallied outside the courthouse, some wearing masks bearing his likeness, while critics hailed the ruling as a long-overdue accountability measure for a man accused for years of collusion with violent right-wing paramilitary groups—allegations he has consistently denied and never been convicted for until now.

The case centers on a 2012 complaint filed by Uribe, accusing leftist Senator Iván Cepeda of orchestrating a conspiracy to tie him to paramilitary groups. However, the Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that Cepeda’s actions—gathering testimony from ex-combatants—were part of his legitimate senatorial duties, and instead found that it was Uribe and his associates who had pressured witnesses.

Cepeda, who was present at Monday’s hearing, has long maintained that the truth must prevail. The court has twice denied motions by prosecutors to dismiss the case, allowing it to proceed to a full trial.

The verdict has drawn international attention. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio criticized the process, claiming it demonstrated “weaponization of Colombia’s judicial branch by radical judges” and warned of potential repercussions in U.S.-Colombia relations. A note from Banco de Bogotá referenced a proposal by U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart to reduce non-military aid to Colombia, citing concerns over due process violations in Uribe’s trial.

Uribe, a dominant force in Colombian politics and founder of the right-wing Democratic Center party, was briefly placed under house arrest in 2020 as part of the same investigation. He has repeatedly touted his role in extraditing paramilitary leaders to the U.S. and has maintained his innocence throughout the legal ordeal.

Despite this, Colombia’s Truth Commission attributes more than 205,000 killings to paramilitary groups during the country’s internal conflict—nearly half of the total 450,000 deaths. The groups, many of which demobilized under Uribe’s administration, were also linked to widespread human rights violations, including forced disappearances, sexual violence, and displacement.

With this ruling, Uribe joins a growing list of former Latin American leaders convicted of serious crimes, including Peru’s Alberto Fujimori, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Ecuador’s Rafael Correa, Argentina’s Cristina Fernández, and Panama’s Ricardo Martinelli.