Overview

• On July 28, Judge Sandra Heredia found Álvaro Uribe guilty of two counts of procedural fraud and three counts of bribery of witnesses in criminal proceedings
• On August 1, Uribe received a 12-year house arrest term, an approximately $820,000 fine and an eight-year ban on holding public office
• Uribe’s defense team filed an appeal with the Bogotá Superior Court, which must rule by mid-October to prevent the case from lapsing
• This is the first criminal conviction and sentencing of a former Colombian president, intensifying debates over judicial independence and accusations of lawfare
• The verdict is poised to reshape conservative power networks and could influence alignments ahead of Colombia’s May 2026 presidential election