Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Found Guilty of Procedural Fraud and Bribery

Álvaro Uribe, the conservative former president who significantly shaped Colombia's political landscape over the past quarter-century, was convicted Monday of procedural fraud and bribery in a criminal proceeding. This ruling represents the first major criminal conviction of a former Colombian head of state.

Uribe faced allegations that he collaborated with a lawyer to bribe former paramilitary members into retracting statements that implicated him. These paramilitaries had accused the 73-year-old ex-president of founding and financing a paramilitary group during the 1990s amid Colombia's long-standing internal conflict.

The verdict, delivered by Judge Sandra Heredia of Bogotá’s 44th Criminal Circuit Court, is expected to further polarize a nation deeply divided over Uribe’s legacy in the conflict. During his presidency from 2002 to 2010, he launched an aggressive military campaign against left-wing rebel groups, which substantially weakened the largest insurgent faction and brought a level of security the country had not seen in years.

However, critics argue that Uribe's administration employed tactics that resulted in human rights violations against civilians and accuse him of supporting right-wing paramilitary groups, for which they say he must be held accountable.

The case has spanned 13 turbulent years. Uribe has stated he will appeal any adverse ruling, a process that could extend for years and likely reach the Supreme Court.