Colombia Convicts Ex-President Álvaro Uribe to 12 Years House Arrest in Political Corruption Case

A Colombian court has sentenced former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez to 12 years of house arrest on charges including procedural abuse and public official bribery. The judgment also prohibits him from holding public office for approximately eight years and four months and mandates a fine exceeding 3.4 billion Colombian pesos (around $840,000). Judge Sandra Heredia delivered the verdict on Friday, following a complex trial that began in 2012, during which Uribe was accused of seeking to influence testimonies against him. Uribe's legal team has filed an appeal, asserting his presumption of innocence remains, and plans to pursue further legal remedies, including a petition to the Colombian Supreme Court. Throughout the process, Uribe has characterized the charges as politically motivated and has called for international judicial review. The case originated when Uribe sued Senator Iván Cepeda over alleged attempts to bribe witnesses, but the courts dismissed Uribe's claims and instead initiated an investigation against him. Critics, including Senator Paloma Valencia, suggest the case is politically charged, linked to the influence of current President Gustavo Petro's allies. In respo...