Álvaro Uribe, once Colombia’s most powerful political figure, was convicted Monday of witness tampering, concluding a highly controversial trial that spanned more than a decade. The ruling has shaken Colombia’s political foundation and reopened old wounds tied to its armed conflict history.
The saga began when Uribe accused Senator Iván Cepeda of inventing paramilitary ties to undermine him. However, the tables turned when the Supreme Court found merit in the evidence against Uribe and launched its own investigation.
Evidence revealed that Uribe contacted jailed paramilitary members, urging them to revise testimonies. While he claimed his intent was to promote the truth, prosecutors demonstrated that the contact aimed to influence legal outcomes.
With over 90 witnesses and months of deliberation, the guilty verdict stands as a major milestone in Colombian politics. Uribe now awaits sentencing, facing up to 12 years in prison.
