The Superior Court of Bogotá determined that there was not enough evidence to link the former president to these crimes.
News Colombia.
The Superior Court of Bogotá acquitted the former president this Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Alvaro Uribe Velez of the crimes of procedural fraud and bribery in criminal proceedingsthus revoking the 12-year sentence that had been imposed in the first instance in July of this same year.
The decision was made after the magistrates concluded that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that Uribe had participated directly or indirectly in the manipulation of witnesses or that he had instructed third parties to alter the course of the process.
The ruling represents a complete turnaround in the most emblematic court case against a former Colombian president. In its ruling, the court pointed out inconsistencies in the testimonies of the main testimonies and lack of evidence that would prove the fraud necessary to establish the crimes charged. With this decision, Uribe is absolved of all criminal responsibility in the file that had made him the first former Colombian president convicted in recent history for witness tampering.
#ATTENTION The Superior Court of Bogotá acquitted former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez in the second instance for the crime of procedural fraud. In conclusion, the former president is fully acquitted. Via @CaracolRadio pic.twitter.com/0fLsNpEVmk
— ÚltimaHoraCaracol (@UltimaHoraCR) October 21, 2025
During the reading of the ruling, the Court made a strong call to attention to Judge Sandra Heredia, who in the first instance had allowed the process against Uribe to continue. The magistrates considered that there was not enough evidence to prove that the former president had intervened directly or indirectly in the alleged acts of bribery, describing the assessment of the evidence in the previous decision as “inadmissible.”
The ruling also acquitted Uribe in cases related to witnesses Carlos Enrique Vélez and Eurídice Cortés Velasco, who claimed to have been contacted to change their version about the former president’s alleged links with paramilitary groups. According to the Court, it could not be proven that the efforts of third parties had the intention of altering testimonies under the instruction or benefit of the former president.
The court certified copies so that Carlos Enrique Vélez could be investigated, “given his recognized mendacity.”
⚠️ATTENTION: Superior Court of Bogotá acquits, in the second instance, former President Álvaro Uribe of the crime of bribery in criminal proceedings and certifies copies so that Carlos Enrique Vélez can be investigated, “given his recognized mendacity.”#UribeInocente pic.twitter.com/cWYImcN3rQ
— Democratic Center (@CeDemocratico) October 21, 2025
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