Downfall of a Leader: Uribe Sentenced

In a landmark ruling, former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years under house arrest. The verdict, delivered by Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia, found Uribe guilty of abusing legal procedures and bribing public officials, tying back to long-debated connections with right-wing paramilitaries.

This judgment marks the first conviction of a Colombian ex-president at trial, adding a significant chapter to the nation's judicial history just a year before the 2026 presidential elections. With Uribe's allies set to compete, the implications of this ruling could reverberate through Colombia's political landscape and its relations with the United States.

Reactions have been polarized; Uribe's supporters denounce the conviction as persecution, while detractors see it as overdue justice. The case highlights allegations of witness tampering involving jailed paramilitaries, with legal proceedings continuing as Uribe's team appeals the verdict, aiming for a court date on August 4.

(With inputs from agencies.)