Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe denied charges of bribery and witness tampering on Monday as he delivered his opening statement in the first criminal trial of a former president in the country’s history.
Addressing a judge in Bogotá, Uribe claimed that the case against him was “politically motivated” and vowed to prove his innocence.
The charges stem from allegations that Uribe attempted to manipulate witnesses in a case brought against him by leftist Senator Iván Cepeda. Cepeda had accused the conservative leader of having ties to a paramilitary group formed by ranchers in the 1990s to combat rebel factions.
The case dates back to 2012, when Uribe filed a libel suit against Cepeda with the Supreme Court, the body responsible for investigating elected officials. However, in a surprising turn, the court dismissed the charges against Cepeda and instead launched an investigation into Uribe in 2018.
After Uribe retired from the Colombian Senate, the proceedings against him were transferred to a different court. The investigation faced multiple delays as prosecutors cited a lack of sufficient evidence. However, under President Gustavo Petro’s administration, which began in 2022, the case has progressed more rapidly.
Uribe was formally charged last year, and his trial commenced last week.
A staunch conservative, Uribe governed Colombia from 2002 to 2010 with strong support from the United States. His presidency saw major military victories against rebel groups, forcing the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) into remote regions. This ultimately led to peace negotiations and the disarmament of more than 13,000 FARC fighters in 2016.
Despite the charges, Uribe remains a highly influential political figure with a strong following. On Monday, dozens of supporters gathered outside the courthouse, waving Colombian flags and wearing masks depicting his likeness.
“It was my patriotic duty to come here and support this great Colombian,” said Jesús Vivas, a 67-year-old supporter. “He saved this country when it was on the verge of collapse.”
Prosecutors allege that Uribe hired a lawyer who pressured imprisoned former paramilitary members to retract statements they had given to Cepeda, implicating Uribe in right-wing death squads.
Uribe denied witness tampering but admitted to seeking interviews with former paramilitary members to “verify testimonies” that were also being used in the trial of his brother, Santiago Uribe.
Santiago Uribe was acquitted last year of murder charges and accusations of supporting an armed group.
If convicted of witness tampering and bribery, Álvaro Uribe could face up to 12 years in prison.
However, since the charges were originally filed in 2018, they will expire in October, leaving the court only eight months to reach a verdict.
