Colombia’s Superior Court on Tuesday ordered the release of former President Alvaro Uribe from house arrest while he appeals a conviction for witness tampering and bribery in a case related to the country’s prolonged civil war.
On August 1, the 73-year-old was sentenced to 12 years of detention.
This was the first time in Colombia’s history that a former president was convicted of a crime. He also received the longest possible prison term.
Accused of overseeing human rights violations
Uribe was president from 2002 to 2010 and oversaw the fight against leftist rebels. His hardline approach is attributed to FARC rebels being forced into peace negotiations.
However, detractors point to the human rights violations under him as Colombia’s military strived for crucial victories against the rebels.
The military is accused of killing thousands of young people and passing them off as rebels.
Uribe was found guilty of pressuring jailed witnesses to alter testimony linking him to right-wing militias.
He denies the charges and appealed the conviction, calling the case politically motivated and instigated by Colombia’s left, now led by President Gustavo Petro, his political archrival.
Ties to US conservatives
The court said Uribe does not pose a flight risk and will remain free until mid-October, when a final decision is to be issued. If the deadline passes without a ruling, the conviction will be annulled and the former president will go free.
“Thanks to God, thanks to so many fellow Colombians for their expressions of solidarity,” Uribe posted on X. “I will dedicate every minute of my freedom to the freedom of Colombia.”
Uribe remains a powerful figure in Colombia’s conservative politics.
He was a close ally of the United States and retains ties to the American right.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called Uribe’s conviction “the weaponization of Colombia’s judicial branch by radical judges.” However, Rubio did not provide any evidence backing his claims.
Edited by Sean Sinico
