Historic Conviction: Uribe Found Guilty in Landmark Case

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been convicted on charges of witness tampering and bribery in a historic trial that captivated Colombia. The trial, held in Bogota, lasted nearly six months, with prosecutors presenting compelling evidence that Uribe attempted to sway witnesses accusing him of paramilitary ties.

The ruling, delivered by Judge Sandra Heredia, concluded a lengthy ten-hour session, indicating that Uribe conspired with a lawyer to persuade imprisoned former paramilitary members to alter their testimony. This testimony had been pivotal to an investigation launched by left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda into Uribe's alleged paramilitary connections.

The origins of the case trace back to 2012, when Uribe sued Cepeda for libel, leading to an unexpected turn as charges against Cepeda were dropped and Uribe became the subject of investigation in 2018. Uribe now faces a potential 12-year sentence and is expected to appeal.

(With inputs from agencies.)