The Superior Court ordered Alvaro Uribe released from house arrest while he appeals a conviction for witness tampering and bribery tied to Colombia's civil war. Uribe was sentenced on August 1 to 12 years, marking the first conviction of a former Colombian president and the longest possible term. He led the country from 2002 to 2010 with a hardline stance against leftist rebels, a strategy credited with pressuring FARC toward peace talks. Critics accuse the military of killing thousands and presenting victims as rebels. Uribe denies the charges, calls them politically motivated, and remains influential in conservative politics.
Colombia's Superior Court on Tuesday ordered the release of former President Alvaro Uribe from house arrest while he appeals a conviction for witness tampering and bribery in a case related to the country's prolonged civil war. On August 1, the 73-year-old was sentenced to 12 years of detention. This was the first time in Colombia's history that a former president was convicted of a crime. He also received the longest possible prison term.
His hardline approach is attributed to FARC rebels being forced into peace negotiations. However, detractors point to the human rights violations under him as Colombia's military strived for crucial victories against the rebels. The military is accused of killing thousands of young people and passing them off as rebels. Uribe was found guilty of pressuring jailed witnesses to alter testimony linking him to right-wing militias. He denies the charges and appealed the conviction,
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