In a major legal turn, Colombia’s former president, Álvaro Uribe, has seen his recent convictions for fraud and bribery overturned. He had previously been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest following a trial in August. The case, which led to Uribe becoming the first Colombian leader to be criminally convicted, stemmed from allegations that he orchestrated a witness tampering scheme to discredit accusations of his ties to paramilitary groups.
Uribe, a prominent right-wing politician who served as president from 2002 to 2010, has consistently maintained his innocence. His presidency was largely defined by a strong offensive against the Farc rebels and he remains an influential figure in Colombian politics. The decision to overturn the convictions was based on the Superior Court of Bogotá’s finding that the testimony of a former paramilitary commander, Luis Carlos Vélez, lacked credibility. Vélez had claimed he was paid bribes by Uribe’s lawyer, Diego Cadena.
Furthermore, the court’s extensive ruling noted that some wiretaps used to initiate the investigation against Uribe may have been obtained unlawfully. While this decision represents a significant victory for the former president, it is subject to appeal by parties identified as victims in the case.
The ruling has drawn strong reactions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously criticized Uribe’s conviction, defending him as a tireless fighter for his country. Conversely, Colombia’s current president, Gustavo Petro, who is the nation’s first leftist leader, publicly denounced the court’s decision on social media. Petro suggested the ruling was an attempt to conceal the history of paramilitary influence in Colombian politics, particularly concerning politicians allegedly linked to drug trafficking.
Paramilitary groups have a complex and often violent history in Colombia, emerging in the 1980s to combat guerrilla movements. Many of these groups became involved in the cocaine trade, leading to enduring conflicts over drug routes and resources. Both right-wing paramilitary forces and some left-wing guerrilla groups have been implicated in serious human rights abuses, including massacres and disappearances.