Former president of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe, at an event of his party, Centro Democrático. Photo: Cristian Bayona/file photo.
The Superior Court of Bogotá ordered the immediate release of former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez (2002-2010), who had been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest for procedural fraud and bribery in a criminal case. The court announced this order on Tuesday, August 19, as the appeal filed by Uribe’s defense is being reviewed by the judiciary.
The Criminal Decision Chamber of the Superior Court of Bogotá resolved an appeal in favor of Uribe, considering that his fundamental right to individual freedom should prevail while the sentence issued by Judge Sandra Heredia, of the 44th Criminal Court of Bogotá, is being reviewed. That sentence had made him the first former head of state in the history of Colombia to be criminally convicted.
⚖️ El Tribunal Superior de Bogotá resolvió la primera acción de tutela en el proceso contra Álvaro Uribe Vélez, al pronunciarse sobre la solicitud de amparo presentada frente a la orden de detención inmediata dictada en su contra.
➡️ https://t.co/lFFrXwL7sl pic.twitter.com/JVazfLRR1y— Tribunal Superior de Bogotá (@TSB_Bogota) August 19, 2025
The judicial process against Uribe, dubbed the “trial of the century” in Colombia, formally began in March 2024 and included 67 hearings and the participation of 107 witnesses. Judge Heredia concluded that there was sufficient evidence to convict him for participating in a witness tampering scheme in events associated with criminal actions that Uribe promoted in 2012.
Uribe’s defense, led by lawyers Jaime Granados and Jaime Lombana, applauded Tuesday’s ruling and reiterated that Uribe is a victim of a “judicial persecution with political motivations.” They argued that the illegal actions attributed to Diego Cadena, the former president’s ex-lawyer, were carried out individually and without their client’s authorization.
Uribe, founder and leader of the right-wing party Centro Democrático, was under house arrest at his estate in Rionegro, Antioquia. He now regains his freedom while the judiciary reviews the arguments of the appeal that could confirm, modify, or overturn the first-instance conviction.
The case has generated strong polarization in Colombian public opinion, where Uribe maintains a decisive political influence, and it stands out as one of the most significant judicial processes in the recent history of the country.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/SL
