BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — At the forefront of a groundbreaking legal dispute lies a high-profile figure in Colombia, as former President Álvaro Uribe vehemently refutes accusations of bribery and witness tampering in what marks the first criminal trial of a former president in the nation’s history. Addressing a judge in the capital city of Bogota on Monday, Uribe firmly stated his intention to demonstrate that the charges leveled against him are driven by political motives.
The allegations against Uribe are rooted in claims that he sought to influence witnesses in a case initiated by leftist senator Iván Cepeda, who asserted that the conservative ex-leader had ties to a paramilitary group established by ranchers in the 1990s to combat rebel factions. The legal saga traces back to 2012 when Uribe lodged a defamation lawsuit against Cepeda with the Supreme Court, the institution tasked with probing elected officials. However, in a surprising turn of events, the court dismissed charges against Cepeda and pivoted to investigate Uribe in 2018.
Following Uribe’s retirement from the Colombian senate, judicial proceedings against the former president were transferred to a different court. Prosecutors faced delays in the inquiry against Uribe due to purported insufficient evidence to press charges, but investigations gained momentum under the administration of President Gustavo Petro, the leftist leader who assumed office in 2022. Uribe was formally indicted last year, and his trial kicked off last week.
The combative conservative figure steered Colombia from 2002 to 2010, enjoying robust backing from the United States. Uribe’s tenure saw significant triumphs by Colombia’s military against rebel factions, driving the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia insurgents into isolated enclaves and compelling the group’s leadership to engage in peace negotiations with the government, culminating in the demobilization of over 13,000 combatants in 2016.
Despite the legal entanglements, Uribe maintains a devoted following in Colombia and remains a vocal critic of President Petro. Scores of supporters congregated outside the courthouse on Monday, brandishing Colombian flags and donning masks featuring the visage of the former president. One fervent backer, Jesús Vivas, aged 67, expressed his unwavering support, emphasizing Uribe’s pivotal role in salvaging the nation during tumultuous times.
Prosecutors have alleged that Uribe enlisted a lawyer who met incarcerated ex-members of paramilitary groups and purportedly coerced them into altering their statements provided to Senator Cepeda, who accused Uribe of orchestrating right-wing paramilitary units. In his defense, Uribe refuted claims of witness tampering but acknowledged seeking interviews with former paramilitary operatives to corroborate testimonies being utilized in his brother Santiago Uribe’s trial.
Uribe’s sibling was acquitted of murder charges last year and cleared of allegations of aiding
