If the sentence, which relates to the crimes of procedural fraud and bribery in criminal proceedings, is upheld, the former president will have an additional five years to appeal and will be barred from participating as a Senate candidate for his party, the Democratic Center, in the March 8, 2026, elections.

Judge Sandra Heredia, in a ruling read on August 1, ruled that the Prosecutor’s Office convincingly proved that Uribe asked lawyer Diego Cadena to seek out former paramilitaries to distort the facts before the courts with false statements, in exchange for material and legal benefits.

Such testimony also sought to discredit Senator Ivan Cepeda, a recognized victim in the case and who participated in an investigation last decade to determine the former president’s ties to paramilitaries.

Heredia ruled that compliance with the 12-year house arrest sentence should begin immediately to prevent a possible evasion of the sentence.

However, less than three weeks later, the Superior Court of Bogota responded to a legal appeal filed by the defense and ruled that the convicted man could remain free while the court decided his appeal.

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