Colombia's ex-President Uribe charged with witness tampering in polarizing authorized struggle
BOGOTA, Colombia — Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was charged Friday in a extensive-functioning witness tampering investigation.
Uribe was formally billed with witness tampering and bribery for his initiatives to discredit a political opponent who was digging into Uribe’s loved ones ties to correct-wing paramilitary teams. If convicted, Uribe faces up to 12 a long time in prison.
The situation dates again to 2012, when Uribe filed a grievance with the Supreme Court docket accusing a leftist lawmaker, Iván Cepeda, of slander. In 2018, the higher courtroom — the only authority allowed to examine lawmakers — shut the investigation towards Cepeda, and in a bombshell reversal, introduced it was opening a new probe into Uribe, who was then a senator for fraud and manipulating testimony.
Uribe, who governed Colombia with sturdy U.S. guidance from 2002 to 2010, has denied any wrongdoing and has accused Colombia’s chief prosecutor’s business office of “political vengeance.”
There are wiretapped mobile phone discussions in which the previous president can be heard discussing with one particular of his attorneys attempts to flip two former paramilitary fighters who ended up set to testify from him. Uribe mentioned his conversations have been intercepted illegally.
The long-managing legal fight is using area from a polarized political backdrop in the South American country that has been produced far more intensive by the 2022 election of another Uribe critic, President Gustavo Petro, a former leftist rebel himself.
No political chief in Colombia’s recent background has wielded as considerably affect as Uribe, who however has legions of followers. He led the “no” marketing campaign that successfully voted versus a peace accord with leftist rebels in 2016, though the federal government later adopted a a bit revised variation.
Allegations of ties to drug cartels and paramilitaries have dogged him due to the fact the early 1980s, when the civil aviation company he then led was accused of offering air licenses to drug traffickers. Declassified State Office cables from a 10 years afterwards demonstrate U.S. officers ended up instructed the up-and-coming politician experienced ties to cartels.
The media focus and potent feelings bordering the scenario have complex the function of Colombia’s justice technique, which in the course of its heritage has struggled to maintain notable political and navy leaders accountable.
Before Petro took workplace, Colombian prosecutors attempted 2 times to close the witness-tempering case following stating they experienced failed to locate proof of Uribe’s prison accountability. On the other hand, all those requests ended up rejected by judges, and in April, just after Petro appointed a new lawyer normal, prosecutors transformed study course and said they would just take the situation to demo.
Friday’s listening to was held by means of video meeting and Uribe experienced a limited function, leaving most of the chatting to his law firm.
The chief prosecutor, Gilberto Ivan Villareal, stated the former president “abused his distinguished position in culture” to flip witnesses and get them to communicate out in opposition to Cepeda.
Uribe was briefly held under pre-demo home arrest in 2020 all through the coronavirus pandemic under orders from the Supreme Court docket. But he was freed soon following resigning his senate seat. The shift prompted the justice procedure to transfer the case from the significant court docket to prosecutors.
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Goodman described from Miami.
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BOGOTA, Colombia — Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was charged Friday in a extensive-functioning witness tampering investigation.
Uribe was formally billed with witness tampering and bribery for his initiatives to discredit a political opponent who was digging into Uribe’s loved ones ties to correct-wing paramilitary teams. If convicted, Uribe faces up to 12 a long time in prison.
The situation dates again to 2012, when Uribe filed a grievance with the Supreme Court docket accusing a leftist lawmaker, Iván Cepeda, of slander. In 2018, the higher courtroom — the only authority allowed to examine lawmakers — shut the investigation towards Cepeda, and in a bombshell reversal, introduced it was opening a new probe into Uribe, who was then a senator for fraud and manipulating testimony.
Uribe, who governed Colombia with sturdy U.S. guidance from 2002 to 2010, has denied any wrongdoing and has accused Colombia’s chief prosecutor’s business office of “political vengeance.”
There are wiretapped mobile phone discussions in which the previous president can be heard discussing with one particular of his attorneys attempts to flip two former paramilitary fighters who ended up set to testify from him. Uribe mentioned his conversations have been intercepted illegally.
The long-managing legal fight is using area from a polarized political backdrop in the South American country that has been produced far more intensive by the 2022 election of another Uribe critic, President Gustavo Petro, a former leftist rebel himself.
No political chief in Colombia’s recent background has wielded as considerably affect as Uribe, who however has legions of followers. He led the “no” marketing campaign that successfully voted versus a peace accord with leftist rebels in 2016, though the federal government later adopted a a bit revised variation.
Allegations of ties to drug cartels and paramilitaries have dogged him due to the fact the early 1980s, when the civil aviation company he then led was accused of offering air licenses to drug traffickers. Declassified State Office cables from a 10 years afterwards demonstrate U.S. officers ended up instructed the up-and-coming politician experienced ties to cartels.
The media focus and potent feelings bordering the scenario have complex the function of Colombia’s justice technique, which in the course of its heritage has struggled to maintain notable political and navy leaders accountable.
Before Petro took workplace, Colombian prosecutors attempted 2 times to close the witness-tempering case following stating they experienced failed to locate proof of Uribe’s prison accountability. On the other hand, all those requests ended up rejected by judges, and in April, just after Petro appointed a new lawyer normal, prosecutors transformed study course and said they would just take the situation to demo.
Friday’s listening to was held by means of video meeting and Uribe experienced a limited function, leaving most of the chatting to his law firm.
The chief prosecutor, Gilberto Ivan Villareal, stated the former president “abused his distinguished position in culture” to flip witnesses and get them to communicate out in opposition to Cepeda.
Uribe was briefly held under pre-demo home arrest in 2020 all through the coronavirus pandemic under orders from the Supreme Court docket. But he was freed soon following resigning his senate seat. The shift prompted the justice procedure to transfer the case from the significant court docket to prosecutors.
___
Goodman described from Miami.