BREAKING: Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Sentenced to 12 Years House Arrest for Fraud and Witness Bribery

In a shocking turn for one of Latin America's most influential political figures, former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest after being convicted of procedural fraud and witness bribery.

The verdict, delivered in Bogotá on Thursday evening, marks the first time in modern Colombian history that a former head of state has been convicted in a criminal court.

Uribe, who served as president from 2002 to 2010 and was once hailed as a national hero for his iron-fisted policies against guerrilla insurgents, now stands disgraced, his political legacy marred by a years-long legal battle that has captivated the Colombian public and shaken the nation’s justice system.

The case centers around allegations that Uribe and his associates sought to manipulate testimonies from former paramilitary fighters in an attempt to discredit political rival Senator Iván Cepeda. According to prosecutors, Uribe orchestrated a deliberate scheme to bribe and coerce witnesses into retracting statements that linked him to right-wing paramilitary groups responsible for thousands of civilian deaths during Colombia’s internal conflict.

Although Uribe had previously denied all wrongdoing, claiming he was the victim of political persecution, the court found “compelling evidence” of deliberate interference in the judicial process, citing audio recordings, intercepted communications, and testimony from multiple former combatants.

Uribe, 73, will serve his sentence under strict house arrest conditions, including a ban on political activities, digital communication restrictions, and routine monitoring by Colombia’s national police. While supporters have decried the judgment as “a blow to conservative values,” legal experts across Latin America are hailing the ruling as a landmark victory for the rule of law.

“This case has broken through the impunity that for decades has surrounded Colombia’s most powerful elite,” said constitutional lawyer Diana Rodríguez, speaking to El Tiempo. “It shows that no one, not even a former president, is above accountability.”

The ripple effects are already being felt across Colombia’s political landscape. With local elections looming and Uribe’s Democratic Center party under fire, analysts predict a major realignment in right-wing coalitions. Meanwhile, human rights organizations and victims’ families are welcoming the ruling as a long-awaited measure of justice.

Internationally, the conviction has drawn comparisons to recent legal reckonings in countries like Brazil and Peru, where ex-presidents have faced similar fates. As Latin America battles corruption and authoritarianism, Uribe’s downfall may signal a broader regional shift toward transparency and institutional strength.

For now, the man once regarded as Colombia’s most untouchable politician is confined to his estate — not by war, but by the law.