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Colombia Ex-President Alvaro Uribe
Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, who led the country from 2002 to 2010, has been charged with witness tampering and bribery, making him the first former head of state in Colombia to face a criminal trial. The charges stem from an investigation into Uribe’s alleged connections to right-wing paramilitary groups. The 71-year-old is accused of offering cash and other incentives to witnesses to discredit a political opponent probing his family’s ties to these armed groups. If found guilty, Uribe could face up to 12 years in prison.
Uribe denies the allegations and has accused Colombia’s chief prosecutor’s office of political vengeance. The case includes wiretapped conversations where Uribe discusses with his lawyer efforts to persuade two former paramilitary fighters to retract their testimony against him. Uribe claims these conversations were illegally intercepted, insisting he only sought to defend his reputation.
Judge Sandra Heredia recently rejected Uribe’s request to dismiss the case. The controversy dates back to 2012, when Uribe, then a senator, filed a complaint against left-wing Senator Ivan Cepeda, accusing him of plotting to falsely link Uribe to paramilitary groups. Instead of investigating Cepeda, the Supreme Court turned its attention to Uribe. The investigation, which began in 2018, has seen numerous twists, with several attorneys general attempting to close it. The case has gained momentum under Attorney General Luz Camargo, appointed by Colombia’s first left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, a historical adversary of Uribe.
Despite the charges, Uribe remains a significant figure on Colombia’s right, known for his tough stance against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and his opposition to the 2016 peace accord with the Marxist rebels.
