Former Colombian President Uribe Found Guilty In Bribery Trial That Threatens His Legacy

BOGOTA, Colombia — Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was convicted of witnesser tampering and bribery charges connected Monday, successful a historical proceedings that gripped nan South American federation and threatened to tarnish nan blimpish strongman’s legacy.

The ruling was announced by a judge successful Bogota, nan country’s capital, pursuing a astir six-month proceedings successful which prosecutors presented grounds that Uribe attempted to power witnesses who accused nan rule and bid leader of having links to a paramilitary group founded by ranchers successful nan 1990s.

In a lengthy ruling that lasted much than 10 hours, Judge Sandra Heredia said location was capable grounds to find that Uribe conspired pinch a lawyer, to coax 3 erstwhile members of paramilitary groups who were successful situation into changing grounds they had provided to Ivan Cepeda, a left-wing legislator who had launched a probe into Uribe’s alleged ties to a paramilitary group.

The lawsuit dates backmost to 2012, erstwhile Uribe revenge a libel suit against Cepeda, pinch nan Supreme Court. But successful a astonishment twist nan precocious tribunal dismissed charges against Cepeda and launched an investigation against Uribe successful 2018.

Uribe faces up to 12 years successful situation for nan crimes he has been charged with. A sentencing will beryllium delivered successful a abstracted hearing. The erstwhile president is expected to entreaty nan ruling successful a precocious court.