Former Colombian Leader Uribe Faces 12-Year House Arrest

    0
    0

    BOGOTA, Colombia โ€” In a landmark case that captivated Colombia, former President รlvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest. The charges of witness tampering and bribery cast a shadow over the career of the once-respected conservative leader.

    During the trial, which spanned nearly six months, evidence was presented by prosecutors. It suggested Uribe attempted to sway witnesses accusing him of ties with a paramilitary organization during the 1990s, a charge Uribe has consistently denied. The 73-year-old, found guilty earlier in the week, maintains his innocence and plans to appeal the decision.

    Judge Sandra Heredia declared on Friday that keeping Uribe free while he sought to appeal posed risks, citing it would be โ€œeasyโ€ for him to flee and evade justice. Additionally, Uribe faces an eight-year ban from public office, along with a financial penalty of approximately $776,000.

    In anticipation of his sentencing, Uribe took to social media, indicating he was readying his defense and emphasizing the importance of seeking solutions amid personal challenges.

    The court of appeals is expected to review the case by early October, with potential for either side to escalate the issue to the Colombian Supreme Court afterward.

    Having led Colombia between 2002 and 2010, Uribeโ€™s term was marked by strong backing from the United States. However, he remains a contentious figure in his homelandโ€”hailed by some for averting state failure, but criticized by others for alleged human rights abuses and associations with paramilitary forces.

    Judge Heredia also implicated that Uribe, in collusion with a lawyer, tried to sway three imprisoned former paramilitary members to recant testimonies once provided to Ivรกn Cepeda, a senator from the leftist spectrum who investigated Uribeโ€™s connections to the paramilitary network.

    Uribeโ€™s own legal escapade began in 2012 with a libel action against Cepeda in the Supreme Court. Ironically, this backfired, and in 2018, the court dismissed charges against Cepeda, initiating an inquiry into Uribe instead.

    Reactions to Uribeโ€™s sentence have been sharply divided. Martha Peรฑuela Rosales, a supporter from Bogotรก, expressed sorrow and disbelief at the ruling, declaring it unfair and a denial of his freedom. Conversely, Sergio Andrรฉs Parra, protesting outside the courtroom, deemed the 12-year house arrest sufficient, asserting that historical judgment had already been made irrespective of potential appeals.

    Under Uribeโ€™s leadership, Colombia achieved significant military successes against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), ultimately pressuring the group into negotiations and resulting in the 2016 disarmament of over 13,000 fighters.