The verdict in the trial of former President Alvaro Uribe—ongoing for months in Colombia—is set to be announced on July 28. After more than 60 hearings held over the past five months and the conclusion of closing arguments, the case now awaits a final decision. The outcome could mark a historic moment for the country.
Uribe faces charges of procedural fraud, witness tampering, and bribery of criminal conduct in a case that dates back more than twelve years. If found guilty, the former Colombian president could face a prison sentence of up to 12 years.
Colombia awaits verdict in Alvaro Uribe’s trial on July 28
Sandra Heredia, the judge presiding over the case against former President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), announced that the sentencing date will be Monday, July 28.
This concludes more than five months during which various prosecution and defense witnesses presented arguments to convict or acquit one of the most prominent figures in Colombian politics in the 21st century.
Uribe faces charges for procedural fraud, witness bribery, and criminal conduct bribery. If found guilty, these crimes could carry a prison sentence of over ten years.
However, local media in Colombia report that, according to legal experts, “the favorable scenario for the former president would be a sentence between 7 and 9 years under house arrest,” considering that the defendant currently has no prior convictions against him.
“We have two crimes, each carrying a prison sentence of 6 to 12 years. Considering the person has no criminal record, we would place the sentence between 7 and 8 years (…) In Colombia, when the sentence does not exceed nine years in prison, house arrest is applicable, as these types of offenses do not exclude it,” attorney Francisco Bernate told the media outlet Infobae.
A case spanning over a decade
The judicial process against former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe dates back to 2012, when he filed a complaint against Senator IvAn Cepeda for allegedly manipulating witnesses to link him to paramilitary groups.
However, in 2018, the Supreme Court of Justice dismissed the complaint against Cepeda and instead opened an investigation against Uribe for alleged witness tampering.
In August 2020, Uribe relinquished his Senate seat, intending for his case to be transferred from the Supreme Court to the Attorney General’s Office, then led by Francisco Barbosa – an appointee hailing from Uribe’s political party.
Despite the prosecution’s efforts to dismiss the case, a Bogota judge denied the dismissal request in April 2022, keeping the criminal case active.
Throughout 2023 and 2024, the prosecution presented new evidence and testimonies. Finally, in May 2024, a judge ordered the formal opening of a criminal trial for the crimes of procedural fraud and bribery.
The trial began last February amid intense media attention and political polarization. Although Uribe left the presidency 15 years ago, he remains one of the most influential figures in Colombian politics.