Colombian Court Overturns House Arrest for Ex-President Uribe During Appeal

A Bogota court has decided to let former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe stay out of house arrest while he appeals his convictions for bribery and abuse of process.

The ruling, shared on Tuesday, means Uribe can remain free for now, sparking both celebration and frustration across Colombia.

Uribe, 73, who was president from 2002 to 2010, was ordered earlier this month to serve 12 years under house arrest.

The charges claim he and his team tried to bribe ex-paramilitaries to change their stories about his alleged connections to right-wing paramilitary groups during Colombia’s long conflict. Uribe has always denied these claims, insisting the case is a political witch hunt.

• Colombian court overturns house arrest for ex-president Álvaro Uribe during appeal
• Uribe remains free as Bogota court suspends house arrest amid bribery conviction appeal
• Former Colombia president Álvaro Uribe wins reprieve in bribery case, deepening political divide

The Superior Court’s decision pauses the house arrest until his appeal is settled, giving Uribe a reprieve. His supporters, especially from his Democratic Center party, are thrilled, calling the ruling a step toward fairness. But others, who see the conviction as a rare chance to hold a powerful figure accountable, are disappointed.

The case started in 2012 when Uribe accused leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda of trying to tie him to paramilitaries. In 2018, the Supreme Court cleared Cepeda and found evidence that Alvaro Uribe’s team pressured witnesses. Two former paramilitaries said Uribe’s lawyer, Diego Cadena, offered bribes for favorable testimony—something Cadena denies.

Uribe’s conviction was a big deal, marking the first time a former Colombian president was found guilty at trial. It could play a role in the 2026 presidential election, where Uribe’s allies are key players. The appeal, which might go all the way to the Supreme Court, could drag on for years.

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The ruling has caught attention abroad, too. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the conviction an abuse of the legal system, showing Uribe’s strong ties to U.S. conservatives. Meanwhile, critics like Cepeda see the case as a win for victims of paramilitary violence.