Álvaro Uribe has made history as the first former president of Colombia to be convicted of a crime. A court in Bogotá found the 73-year-old guilty of witness tampering and fraud, marking a dramatic fall for the man who once led the country from 2002 to 2010.
Uribe was convicted of trying to bribe witnesses in a separate case probing his alleged links to right-wing paramilitary groups accused of severe human rights violations. Each charge could carry up to 12 years in prison, though Uribe plans to appeal and continues to insist on his innocence.
During the trial — which included testimony from more than 90 witnesses — Uribe reportedly shook his head as the verdict was read.
The case has sparked strong reactions, including from U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who criticized the ruling and accused Colombia’s judiciary of being “weaponized.” He claimed Uribe’s only “crime” was defending his country.
The roots of the legal saga date back to 2012, when Uribe accused leftist Senator Iván Cepeda of falsely trying to link him to paramilitary groups. But the Supreme Court dismissed Uribe’s claims and turned the investigation on him instead. Prosecutors say Uribe attempted to bribe jailed ex-paramilitaries into retracting statements that tied him to the armed groups.
Uribe said he merely wanted the truth to come out.
Paramilitary groups in Colombia emerged in the 1980s to counter left-wing guerrillas like the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), but many became entangled in the drug trade and widespread violence. While Uribe earned U.S. praise for his aggressive crackdown on FARC rebels, critics argue he did little to address deep-rooted inequality and poverty.
In 2016, FARC signed a peace deal with Uribe’s successor — though conflict from splintered groups still lingers.
Uribe’s conviction is a major turning point in Colombia’s efforts to reckon with its past and deliver accountability at the highest levels.
