Particle.news
Download on the App Store
19 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Colombian Ex-President Uribe Convicted of Witness Tampering and Bribery

Sentencing is scheduled for early August following Judge Heredia’s verdict that Uribe bribed former paramilitaries to change their testimony.

Image
Image
A man records a poster depicting former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, as people gather in celebration, after a judge found Uribe guilty of abuse of process and bribery of a public official, in Bogota, Colombia July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
A woman holds a banner that reads "Uribe goes to prison", as people gather in celebration after a judge found former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe guilty of abuse of process and bribery of a public official, in Bogota, Colombia July 28, 2025. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

Overview

  • Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia found Uribe guilty of abuse of process and bribery of a public official in a years-long witness-tampering trial that concluded on July 28.
  • Uribe faces up to 12 years in prison, with a formal sentencing hearing set for early August and an appeal expected under Colombian law.
  • The conviction marks Colombia’s first criminal verdict against a former head of state and stems from Uribe’s 2012 complaint against Senator Iván Cepeda.
  • Prosecutors presented testimony from at least one former paramilitary fighter who said Uribe offered benefits to alter his testimony linking him to illegal armed groups.
  • The ruling has deepened political divides, drawing condemnation from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and calls for judicial independence from President Gustavo Petro.