The Colombian Prosecutor’s Office formally charged former President Álvaro Uribe with witness tampering and procedural fraud on Friday.
This development occurred during the Accusation Hearing held in the 44th Penal Circuit Court of Bogotá. The hearing, presided over by Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia, saw Uribe’s defense team’s request for nullification of the proceedings swiftly rejected. This marks a significant milestone as Uribe becomes the first ex-president in Colombia to face a criminal trial in the ordinary justice system. The decision by Judge Heredia marks the formal commencement of Uribe’s trial, with potential consequences that could see the former leader facing a prison sentence ranging from 6 to 12 years if found guilty.
During the proceedings, Judge Heredia also acknowledged Senator Iván Cepeda, former Attorneys General Jorge Perdomo and Eduardo Montealegre, as well as Deyanira Gómez, the former spouse of paramilitary Juan Guillermo Monsalve, as victims in the case. This acknowledgment underscores the complex web of individuals impacted by the alleged actions of former President Uribe. The judge elaborated on her decision, stating:
There was concrete harm caused by the actions deployed by the defendant, aimed at affecting the good name and moral integrity of the senator, as it was directed towards associating him with the commission of criminal conduct.
In the case of Deyanira Gómez, the judge explained that there is merit to consider that she suffered harassment by the former president and his lawyers, which led her to exile herself in Canada with her children.
The formal accusations against Álvaro Uribe involve allegations that he attempted to bribe witnesses to alter or retract their statements regarding his purported ties to paramilitary groups. This case has its roots in an investigation that began over a decade ago when Uribe accused Senator Iván Cepeda of manipulating paramilitaries to testify against him. However, the Supreme Court redirected the investigation toward Uribe, focusing on evidence that suggested he exerted pressure on witnesses to change their testimonies. The Prosecutor’s Office says that Uribe allegedly instructed his advisor, Diego Cadena, to engage with former paramilitaries and offer them benefits in exchange for false testimony or retractions of incriminating statements.
The judicial process against Uribe has been a lengthy journey that now spans more than a decade. It began in February 2012 when Uribe filed a complaint against Senator Iván Cepeda before the Supreme Court, accusing him of witness manipulation involving alleged paramilitary activities. However, the high court found indications that the former president may have committed these crimes, leading to a dramatic turn of events. This turn of events included Uribe’s defense team’s request for the nullification of the case. However, Judge Heredia declared that the accusation was properly formulated, marking the beginning of the evidentiary discovery stage.
After being formally accused, Uribe now takes on the role of the accused party. The legal proceedings advance to the evidentiary discovery phase, during which the Prosecutor’s Office is required to present all evidence intended for use in the trial. This phase marks the preparatory hearing for the trial. During this stage, the trial enters its oral phase. Here, the actual trial occurs, with the presentation of evidence and testimonies. Both the defense and prosecution are given the chance to present their arguments, counterarguments, and evidence. Ultimately, a verdict is rendered, determining whether the accused is absolved or convicted.
