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Former President Álvaro Uribe Given 12 Years of House Arrest

Uribe’s defense has appealed the sentence to the Bogotá Superior Court within a mid-October deadline ahead of a potential Supreme Court review

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Colombia's former president Alvaro Uribe speaks during a news conference in Bogota, Colombia, April 18, 2024. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File Photo

Overview

  • Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia found Uribe guilty on two counts of procedural fraud and three counts of witness bribery.
  • The sentence includes immediate house arrest at his Rionegro estate, a fine of roughly $578,000 to $820,000 and an eight-year ban on holding public office.
  • This conviction marks the first criminal penalty imposed on a former Colombian head of state.
  • Supporters decry the ruling as political persecution while international figures, including U.S. conservatives, warn of judicial overreach.
  • The Bogotá Superior Court must issue its decision by mid-October to prevent the statute of limitations from expiring before any potential Supreme Court appeal.