Álvaro Uribe, a former president and central figure in Colombian politics, has been convicted of witness tampering. The Supreme Court’s ruling—delivered during a virtual hearing—marks a historic first for the country.
Uribe originally accused Senator Iván Cepeda of defamation in 2012, but the tables turned when evidence surfaced suggesting Uribe himself attempted to coerce testimony changes. The court launched a formal investigation.
Key testimony came from a former paramilitary fighter who stated Uribe approached him with requests to revise his statement. Despite Uribe’s claims of encouraging truthfulness, the court ruled these actions were unlawful.
The verdict is expected to influence Colombia’s political climate, with Uribe now facing up to 12 years behind bars. It may also set a precedent for holding high-ranking officials accountable in future legal disputes.
Witness Tampering Verdict Shakes Colombia as Uribe Found Guilty
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Photo by Center for American Progress, via wikimedia commons