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Court Denies Álvaro Uribe’s Release Bid, Upholds House Arrest

A court refused to grant him provisional release pending appeal; US officials have criticized the verdict, with supporters organizing protests domestically as well as overseas.

Overview

  • The Superior Tribunal of Bogotá ruled on Monday that Uribe’s appeal did not meet the urgency requirements for provisional release, ensuring he remains confined to his Rionegro residence.
  • On August 1, Judge Sandra Heredia sentenced him to 12 years of house arrest, imposed a 100-month ban from public office and fined him over 3.4 billion pesos for abuse of process and bribery of a public official.
  • Uribe’s legal team has until August 13 to file an appeal with the Supreme Court, which then has until October 16 to issue a ruling before the case is closed by default.
  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the conviction as a politicized attack on Colombia’s judiciary, accusing judges of weaponizing the courts against Uribe.
  • Uribe’s Democratic Center party has scheduled rallies in at least 20 Colombian cities and organized solidarity events in the US and Spain to protest the conviction.