Former Colombian President Uribe found guilty in bribery trial that threatens his legacy

Bogota, Colombia – Former Colombian President Álvaro Uibe was found guilty of falsification of witnesses and accusations of corruption on Monday, in a historic trial which seized the South American nation and threatened to tarnish the heritage of the strong conservative man.

The decision was announced by a Bogota judge, the country’s capital, following a trial of almost six months in which the prosecutors presented evidence that Uibe tried to influence witnesses who accused the order of the order of the Order of having links with a paramilitary group founded by breeders in the 1990s.

In a long decision which lasted more than ten hours, judge Sandra Heredia said that there was enough evidence to determine that Uibe conspired with a lawyer, to love three former members of paramilitary groups who were in prison to modify a testimony that they had provided to Ivan Cepeda, a left senator who had launched an investigation in the presumed ties of Uribe.

The case dates back to 2012, when Uibe filed a defamation complaint against Cepeda, the Supreme Court. But in a surprise turn, the high court rejected the accusations against Cepeda and launched an investigation against Uibe in 2018.

Uribe risks up to 12 years in prison for the crimes he was accused. A conviction will be delivered during a separate hearing. The former president should appeal the decision before a high court.