"Colombian court acquits ex-president Álvaro Uribe, overturning prior conviction"

Appeals Court Overturns Conviction of Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe

A Colombian appeals court has reversed the conviction of former president Álvaro Uribe on charges of bribery and witness tampering, marking a pivotal moment in a case that captivated the nation and cast a shadow over the conservative leader’s legacy.

Uribe, 73, has consistently denied any misconduct. In August, he was ordered to serve 12 years under house arrest after a six-month trial where prosecutors alleged he sought to influence witnesses who had linked him to a paramilitary organization during the 1990s.

However, the appeals court ruled on Tuesday that the initial conviction contained "structural flaws," relied on unclear arguments, and failed to provide a thorough assessment of the case.

Uribe, who held office from 2002 to 2010, maintained that the charges against him were politically motivated, alleging judicial bias. His legal team contested the reliability of the evidence and argued that his guilt had not been conclusively established.

Prosecutors and victims retain the right to appeal the decision before Colombia’s supreme court.

The former president, who enjoyed strong backing from the U.S. during his tenure, remains a divisive figure in Colombia. Supporters praise him for stabilizing the country, while critics accuse him of human rights abuses and fostering paramilitary activity in the 1990s.

During the original trial, the presiding judge stated that sufficient evidence indicated Uribe collaborated with a lawyer to pressure three jailed former paramilitary members into altering testimony they had given to leftist senator Iván Cepeda, who was leading an inquiry into Uribe’s alleged paramilitary connections.