Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez was sentenced to 12 years house arrest for procedural fraud and bribery in criminal proceedings, Bogotá criminal judge Sandra Liliana Heredia ruled on August 1.

The 1,114-page ruling also imposed a fine of more than COP3.444bn ($2,420 minimum wages) and barred Uribe from holding public office for more than eight years, El Espectador reported on August 1.

Judge Heredia found that Uribe knew about the search for witnesses in Colombian prisons to attempt to benefit from their testimonies, with lawyer Diego Cadena playing a key role in the scheme.

The judge validated phone intercepts of Uribe and Cadena as evidence, which she said demonstrated their plan to offer benefits to witnesses in exchange for favourable testimony.

The court considered valid Cadena's attempt to manipulate Carlos Enrique Vélez, alias "Víctor," a former paramilitary whom Cadena paid COP26mn in economic benefits in exchange for testimony, though Víctor changed his version after receiving less than the agreed amount.

Similar manipulation occurred with former paramilitary Eurídice Cortés, alias "Diana," whom Cadena asked to record a video to favour Uribe before the Supreme Court of Justice.

Uribe's Democratic Centre party announced marches for August 7, stating "we will march for Álvaro Uribe Vélez, for democracy and freedom in Colombia" whilst denouncing what they consider political persecution.

Party director Gabriel Vallejo claimed "it is clear that the justice system has been manipulated for political purposes" whilst Senator Paloma Valencia suggested the ruling seeks to remove Uribe from the 2026 electoral race.

Senator María Fernanda Cabal described Uribe as "the best president of the last 100 years" whilst criticising current President Gustavo Petro as "a pardoned guerrilla."