FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ALVARO URIBE SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS OF HOUSE ARREST

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE

Article Published on: 02ND AUG 2025 | www.demodemagazine.com

In a landmark case that has deeply divided Colombia, former President Álvaro Uribe was sentenced to 12 years of house arrest on charges of witness tampering and bribery. The 73-year-old conservative leader, who governed from 2002 to 2010 with U.S. backing, was also banned from public office for eight years and fined approximately $776,000.

The conviction stems from his attempt to influence imprisoned paramilitary witnesses to change their testimony linking him to illegal armed groups in the 1990s. Judge Sandra Heredia rejected Uribe’s appeal for freedom during the process, citing his capacity to flee. Uribe denounced the verdict as politically motivated and vowed to appeal. The appeals court has until early October to rule. While supporters view him as a national savior, critics highlight his alleged ties to paramilitary violence. The verdict marks a dramatic fall for one of Colombia’s most polarizing figures.