Colombian former president faces fate amid witness tampering saga
Alvaro Uribe Faces Historic Trial Over Witness Tampering
Alvaro Uribe, the former Colombian president who led the country from 2002 to 2010, will appear before a court on Monday to confront allegations of witness bribery. The case marks the first time a former head of state in South America has been put on trial.
Charges and Potential Sentence
- Uribe is accused of attempting to bribe witnesses involved in a separate investigation.
- The prosecution warns that a conviction could result in a 12‑year imprisonment.
- The proceedings are highly politicized, raising questions about the motives behind the charges.
Background of the 2012 Accusation
In 2012, former President Uribe accused left‑leaning Senator Iván Cepeda of plotting to link him to right‑wing paramilitary groups. The Supreme Court ruled against prosecuting Cepeda, instead turning its focus on Cepeda’s claims against Uribe.
Paramilitary Groups in Colombia
- Paramilitary groups emerged in the 1980s to fight Marxist guerrillas, claiming to combat poverty and political marginalization.
- These organizations adopted cocaine trafficking as a primary source of income, leading to a rivalry for resources that persists against the state.
- During his tenure, Uribe launched a relentless military campaign against drug cartels and the FARC guerrilla army, culminating in a peace treaty signed by his successor in 2016.
Uribe’s Recent Public Statements
On Sunday, Uribe delivered a one‑hour speech in Medellín in which he criticized the left‑leaning administration led by Gustavo Petro, who unseated Uribe’s Centro Democrático party in the 2022 elections.
“We need an enormous victory in the coming year,” Uribe said, referring to the 2026 presidential elections.
Allegations of Witness Tampering
After Cepeda alleged that Uribe had ties to paramilitary groups responsible for human rights violations, Uribe is alleged to have contacted jailed ex‑fighters to lie on his behalf. He claims he only wanted to convince them to tell the truth.
In 2019, thousands protested in Bogotá and Medellín when Uribe, who remains a prominent voice on the right, was indicted in the case. The trial opened in May 2024, with more than 90 witnesses testifying.
Investigations and Prosecutorial Efforts
- The investigation began in 2018 and has seen several attorneys general seek to close the case.
- Prosecutors rely on evidence from at least one paramilitary ex‑fighter who claims Uribe was contacted to change his testimony.
- Uribe is also under investigation in other matters, including a preliminary probe into a 1997 paramilitary massacre when he was governor of Antioquia.
- A complaint has been filed against him in Argentina, where universal jurisdiction allows for the prosecution of crimes committed anywhere in the world. The complaint stems from his alleged involvement in over 6,000 executions and forced disappearances of civilians by the military during his presidency.
Uribe’s Response
Uribe insists that his trial is a product of political vengeance, arguing that the charges are motivated by opposition forces rather than justice.
