Colombian Court Overturns Alvaro Uribe's Convictions: A Political Shockwave

A Colombian court overturned former President Alvaro Uribe's convictions for fraud and bribery related to witness tampering. Uribe, Colombia's first ex-president to face a criminal conviction, was sentenced to 12 years of house arrest. The case ignites political tension amid U.S-Colombian relations and potential appeals.

A Colombian court has overturned the convictions for fraud and bribery against former President Alvaro Uribe, ending his 12-year house arrest sentence linked to allegations of witness tampering. The influential right-wing leader, who served from 2002 to 2010, was previously the first former Colombian president to be criminally convicted.

The overturned convictions leave the door open for a possible appeal by those classified as victims in the case. If pursued, the appeal would progress to Colombia's highest court, intensifying an already politically charged atmosphere. Uribe has been accused of ordering bribes to discredit ties with paramilitary groups, responsible for significant violence in the country's turbulent past.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denounced the charges as a 'weaponization' of Colombian judiciary against Uribe, drawing rebuke from current President Gustavo Petro, who insists on the judiciary's independence. This development escalates existing tensions between Colombia and the United States, particularly following U.S. tariffs linked to Brazil's political disputes involving Jair Bolsonaro.

(With inputs from agencies.)