Colombia - May 2024

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been charged with witness tampering and bribery. Judge Sandra Heredia ruled that Uribe will face a criminal trial, rejecting his lawyers' request to annul the case. This decision marks a historic moment as Uribe becomes the first Colombian ex-president to stand trial for criminal charges in over half a century. Prosecutors allege that Uribe offered bribes to witnesses to discredit opposition Senator Iván Cepeda, who had linked him to paramilitary groups. The indictment follows numerous unsuccessful attempts over the years to investigate the former president, which faced substantial resistance from the judiciary. Uribe, who still holds significant political influence in the country, claims that the case is politically motivated and lacks evidence. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

Sources: El Pais (1), El Pais (2), Aljazeera, El tiempo