Colombia is expectant before the Reading this Friday of the sentence against former president Álvaro Uribecondemned in the first instance for bribery in criminal action and procedural fraudwith a penalty that could range between four and eight years in prison and that the defense has already announced that it will appeal on August 11.
The Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia He will make the announcement this Friday at an audience scheduled for 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
(Further: What did the United States government say about the ruling against Álvaro Uribe).
The decision arrives in a week marked by the tensions caused by the criticisms of the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubioand several congressmen from that country to the ruling, something that the President Gustavo Petro crossed out “an interference in judicial matters of another country“already” national sovereignty. “
What position did the United States did?
Controversy for failure
Heredia anticipated that for these crimes the law provides for a conviction of “an amount greater than four years and less than eight“, although he considered that Uribe, who praised at the beginning of reading the meaning of the failure on Monday”Gallardía and Cordiality“It is done”deserving of house prison as a substitute for prison sentence“
(You may be interested: Guild Council requests guarantees in the process of former president Álvaro Uribe).
However, the Prosecutor of the case, Marlene Orjuelaasked for a greater, nine -year -old, and one Fine of 1,025 current minimum legal wages, equivalent to 1,458 million pesos (about $ 349,000).
Justice
Beyond what happens tomorrow, the defense of the ex -president announced that on August 11 he appeared the judge’s decision before him Superior Court of Bogotáwhich has a deadline until October 16 to rule in the second instance.
“The appeal is made against the sentence, not against the meaning of the ruling. For that, the defense of five business days has, which would mean that on Monday, August 11, this appeal should be filed“The Leader of the Uribe Bar Associations, Jaime Granadosto the Blu Radio station.
Judicial independence
Marco Rubio said Monday on his X account that “The only ‘crime’ of the Colombian president Uribe has been to fight tirelessly and defend his homeland“
(You can read: ‘It is not a definitive ruling’: entrepreneurs react to conviction of former president Uribe).
“The instrumentalization of the Judiciary by radical judges has now sat a worrying precedent“added the head of American diplomacy.
Former Colombian President Uribe’s Only Crime Has Been to Tiressly Fight and Defend His Homeland. The Weaponization of Colombia’s Judicial Branch by Radical Judges Has Now Set A Worrisome Precedent.
– Secretary Marco Rubio (@secrubio) July 28, 2025
Rubio’s criticisms were accompanied by similar comments from American congressmen, such as representatives by Florida María Elvira Salazar and Mario Díaz-Balartamong others.
“Today justice was done in Colombia. An infamy was consumed against Álvaro Uribe, the man who rescued the country of terrorism and faced the FARC when no one else dared“Salazar said in X.
For that reason, the victims accredited in the case against the former president, led by the Iván Cepeda leftist senatorthey alerted this Thursday to the UN and Inter -American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the “External pressures“, specifically from USA, on the judiciary of the country.
Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia
The victims warned that “Interference attempts in jurisdictional function“, represent”A direct threat to judicial independence, due process and institutional balance of the Colombian State“
“In a rule of law, justice must operate with full independence, without external interference and with respect to sovereignty and constitutional guarantees“They said.
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The Supreme Court of Justicemeanwhile, defended judicial autonomy and said “His firm rejection of undue interferences and the expressions of voices that suggest that the decisions taken by the judges do not conform to the provisions of the legal system“
Criticisms against judicial decisions, in the opinion of the High Court, “Not only do credibility and public confidence in justice erode, but they can put the life and integrity of judges and magistrates responsible for resolving cases at risk.“
EFE
