Colombian Court Overturns Conviction of Former President Álvaro Uribe

Wed Oct 22 2025 06:06:24 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a landmark decision, Colombia's Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of former president Álvaro Uribe, who had been sentenced to 12 years' house arrest on charges of fraud and bribery. The ruling has sparked significant political reactions.

The Superior Court in Bogotá has overturned the conviction of former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe, who was sentenced to house arrest on bribery and fraud charges. The court found key testimonies untrustworthy and some evidence was deemed illegally obtained. This ruling has ignited a political firestorm, with President Gustavo Petro criticizing the verdict as an attempt to conceal the paramilitary history in Colombia.

Colombian Court Overturns Conviction of Former President Álvaro Uribe

EPA — Colombia's former President Álvaro Uribe faced 12 years' house arrest for fraud and bribery

In a significant ruling, Colombia's Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of former president Álvaro Uribe, who had been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest following charges of fraud and bribery. This marks a pivotal moment in Colombian history as Uribe had become the first sitting president to be criminally convicted.

Uribe was accused of ordering a lawyer to bribe jailed paramilitaries in order to discredit allegations linking him to these groups. Throughout the legal proceedings, Uribe maintained his innocence.

The court's decision, which spanned over 700 pages, identified serious doubts regarding the credibility of testimonies from a former paramilitary commander, as well as the legality of some wiretaps used to initiate the investigation against him.

This ruling has led to contrasting political opinions, with current President Gustavo Petro expressing strong opposition, suggesting that it seeks to obscure Colombia's contentious history with paramilitary governance and drug trafficking. He condemned the decision publicly, stating, This is how the history of paramilitary governance in Colombia is covered up.

The court's decision can still be appealed by those classified as victims in the case, which keeps the matter open for further legal twists. Uribe, a prominent right-wing politician who served as president from 2002 to 2010, is recognized for his vigorous campaigns against leftist guerrillas, particularly FARC, and continues to play a significant role in Colombian politics.