On 1/8, Colombian judge Sandra Liliana Heredia found former president Alvaro Uribe, 73, guilty of two charges: abuse of legal proceedings and bribery of a public official. Uribe was sentenced to 12 years of house arrest, fined 578,000 USD, and barred from holding public office for 8 years.
The ruling mandates Uribe to report to authorities in Rionegro, his place of residence, and then "immediately return home to serve the house arrest sentence".
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Former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe in Bogota on 8/6. Photo: Reuters |
Former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe in Bogota on 8/6. Photo: Reuters
Uribe maintains his innocence and plans to appeal. He also accused Judge Heredia of attacking his defense team and family throughout the trial, an accusation Heredia denies.
This verdict makes Uribe the first former Colombian president to be convicted of a crime.
Uribe, who led Colombia from 2002 to 2010, is accused of having close ties to right-wing paramilitary groups for decades. He is also suspected of asking these groups to lie about their relationship with him.
Uribe is a close ally of the US and maintains strong relationships with the American right wing. US Senator Marco Rubio previously condemned the prosecution of Uribe. Analysts suggest the US may reduce aid to Colombia following this event.
Ngoc Anh (Reuters, AFP)
