Colombia's former president has had two convictions for fraud and bribery overturned after he was sentenced to 12 years of house arrest. Álvaro Uribe became the first Colombian leader to be criminally convicted after a trial in August in which a judge handed the 73-year-old the maximum sentence. The case against him was linked to claims he ordered a lawyer to bribe jailed paramilitaries to discredit claims he had ties to their organisations. Uribe has always maintained his innocence. The right-wing politician, who was president between 2002 and 2010, is best known for waging an aggressive offensive against left-wing Farc rebels and remains an influential figure in the South American nation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously criticized Uribe's conviction, arguing that his only crime 'has been to tirelessly fight and defend his homeland.' Uribe was originally convicted, in part, on testimony from a former paramilitary commander, Luis Carlos Velez, who said he had been paid bribes by the president's lawyer, Diego Cadena. But the Superior Court in the capital, Bogotá, found that the ex-commander's testimony lacked credibility. In its 700-page decision overturning the convictions, the court also found that some of the wiretaps used to open a formal investigation into Uribe had been obtained illegally. The ruling can be appealed by people classed as victims in the case. Colombia's current and first left-wing President Gustavo Petro denounced the outcome. He wrote on X: 'This is how the history of paramilitary governance in Colombia is covered up, that is, the history of politicians who came to power allied with drug trafficking.' Paramilitary groups emerged in Colombia in the 1980s to fight the Marxist-inspired guerrilla groups that had been battling the state since the 1960s. Many of the armed groups that developed in the conflict made an income from the cocaine trade. Deadly fighting between them and with the state has produced lasting rivalries for trafficking routes and resources. Right-wing paramilitary groups have been found responsible for massacres, disappearances and other atrocities. Some left-wing guerrilla outfits have also been found to have been involved in massacres and threats against Colombian citizens, according to Human Rights Watch.
Colombian Court Overturns Álvaro Uribe's Conviction
Colombian Court Overturns Álvaro Uribe's Conviction
A landmark ruling in Colombia as the former president Álvaro Uribe has his convictions for fraud and bribery overturned, shortly after serving time under house arrest.
In a significant legal turnaround in Colombia, the former president Álvaro Uribe has had his convictions for fraud and bribery overturned by a superior court. Uribe, who previously faced a 12-year house arrest sentence, was accused of orchestrating bribery to discredit claims about his ties to paramilitary groups. The court's ruling found inconsistencies in key testimonies and issues with how evidence was gathered. Current President Gustavo Petro condemned the decision, arguing it obscures political injustices linked to paramilitary governance in Colombia.
