Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest after being found guilty of witness tampering and fraud. At 73, Uribe has made history as the first former president in Colombia to face criminal conviction. Alongside his prison sentence, he has been fined $578,000 and prohibited from public office. Uribe, who maintained his innocence, stated he would appeal the ruling, claiming that it was intended to silence opposing voices. His conviction stems from testimonies from jailed ex-paramilitaries alleging that Uribe's former lawyer attempted to bribe them into providing favorable testimonies. While his administration was marked by a hardline stance against leftist groups, it also faced significant criticisms for not addressing poverty and inequality in Colombia. Despite this, Uribe still enjoys a notable degree of popularity. International political figures, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have decried the ruling, asserting the judicial system has been manipulated against him.