**Colombian Ex-President Álvaro Uribe Sentenced to House Arrest: A Historic Conviction**

The verdict against Álvaro Uribe raises questions about political dynamics and legal integrity in Colombia.

Colombian former President Álvaro Uribe has received a groundbreaking 12-year sentence of house arrest due to charges of witness tampering and fraud. At 73 years old, Uribe has made history as the first former president in Colombia to face criminal conviction, alongside a significant monetary fine of $578,000 (£435,000) and a ban from holding public office. Despite these allegations, Uribe professes his innocence, claiming the legal proceedings are an attempt to silence his voice as a proponent of the democratic opposition.

Uribe, who held the presidency from 2002 to 2010, remains a figure of considerable support in Colombia despite the contentious past involving allegations of collaboration with right-wing paramilitary forces against leftist insurgents, which he has repeatedly denied. The legal battle unraveled over a span of approximately 13 years, stemming from testimonies by two imprisoned ex-paramilitaries, who asserted that Uribe's attorney, Diego Cadena, had attempted to bribe them for favorable testimony.

In an indirect condemnation of the verdict, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the Colombian judiciary, asserting its manipulation against Uribe, who he claims has been tirelessly fighting for his nation. The rise of paramilitary factions in the country since the 1980s, which intended to combat poverty and marginalized communities, has led to a prolonged conflict with left-wing guerrilla groups. Uribe's administration was particularly known for its hardline strategies against the FARC rebels, earning him accolades in Washington but criticism at home regarding the lack of socio-economic progress. In 2016, a peace agreement was signed with FARC under Uribe's successor, yet Colombia continues to experience violence from disbanded factions.