Al Jazeera

Colombian appeals court strikes down ex-President Uribe’s conviction

Reuters

Colombia ex-president acquitted in witness tampering case, senator to appeal

The Superior Tribunal of Bogotá overturned on Tuesday the conviction of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/colombian-court-frees-expresident-uribe-during-appeal">former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe</a> for witness tampering and bribery for which he had been <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/colombias-expresident-uribe-gets-years-house-arrest">sentenced to 12 years of house arrest</a> in August.

Colombia One

The Associated Press

The Superior Tribunal of Bogotá overturned on Tuesday the conviction of former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe for witness tampering and bribery for which he had been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest in August.

The high court said in its 700-page appellate ruling that some of the wiretaps used to open the formal investigation against Uribe were obtained illegally, adding that conversations he had with his lawyer on a phone other than his own should have been suppressed as evidence.

BBC News

Colombia Reports

La Derecha Diario

The high court said in its 700-page appellate ruling that some of the wiretaps used to open the formal investigation against Uribe were obtained illegally, adding that conversations he had with his lawyer on a phone other than his own should have been suppressed as evidence.

Furthermore, the court found that the testimonies from former paramilitaries Carlos Enrique Vélez and Juan Guillermo Monsalve lacked credibility due to inconsistencies, and that evidence of payments to former paramilitary Euridice Cortes failed to prove bribery.

The City Paper Bogotá

Furthermore, the court found that the testimonies from former paramilitaries Carlos Enrique Vélez and Juan Guillermo Monsalve lacked credibility due to inconsistencies, and that evidence of payments to former paramilitary Euridice Cortes failed to prove bribery.

Senator and presidential pre-candidate Iván Cepeda — one of the central figures in the case — and victims' lawyer Miguel Ángel del Río have already announced plans for an appeal to the country's Supreme Court.

Anadolu Ajansı

Senator and presidential pre-candidate Iván Cepeda — one of the central figures in the case — and victims' lawyer Miguel Ángel del Río have already announced plans for an appeal to the country's Supreme Court.

The case against Uribe dates back to 2012, and follows a complaint filed by the former president himself in the wake of a debate in which Cepeda suggested that Uribe had ties to paramilitary groups.

El País

teleSUR English

The case against Uribe dates back to 2012, and follows a complaint filed by the former president himself in the wake of a debate in which Cepeda suggested that Uribe had ties to paramilitary groups.

This latest ruling removes legal obstacles for the conservative leader to run for the Senate in next year's elections, as his Democratic Center previously announced. In Colombia, former presidents are barred for running for reelection — even for a nonconsecutive term.

Bloomberg.com

Mercopress

This latest ruling removes legal obstacles for the conservative leader to run for the Senate in next year's elections, as his Democratic Center previously announced. In Colombia, former presidents are barred for running for reelection — even for a nonconsecutive term.

The appeals court's reversal continues Colombia's shameful tradition of protecting paramilitary-linked politicians from accountability. By dismissing wiretapped evidence of Uribe discussing bribes, the tribunal covers up decades of narco-paramilitary governance and genocide. This decision reinforces impunity for elites while silencing those who exposed political corruption.

The appeals court's reversal continues Colombia's shameful tradition of protecting paramilitary-linked politicians from accountability. By dismissing wiretapped evidence of Uribe discussing bribes, the tribunal covers up decades of narco-paramilitary governance and genocide. This decision reinforces impunity for elites while silencing those who exposed political corruption.</span

NACLA

Uribe on Trial: Colombias Justice System Faces Its Defining Test

Gustavo Petro

petrogustavo

Colombia's justice system finally stood strong against a brazen political witch hunt that targeted former President Uribe for years. The appeals court's decision proves that legal institutions can resist weaponization by those seeking to criminalize legitimate politics. This victory shows the rule of law prevailed over partisan abuse, and serves as an example for other countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Colombia's justice system finally stood strong against a brazen political witch hunt that targeted former President Uribe for years. The appeals court's decision proves that legal institutions can resist weaponization by those seeking to criminalize legitimate politics. This victory shows the rule of law prevailed over partisan abuse, and serves as an example for other countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Colombia: Appeals Court Overturns Former President Uribe's Conviction

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Colombia: Appeals Court Overturns Former President Uribe's Conviction

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