nnFormer Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest for witness tampering and fraud, becoming the first ex-president in the country’s history to be convicted of a crime. He was also barred from public office and fined $578,000. Uribe maintains his innocence and plans to appeal, stating the case aims to silence his opposition voice. The conviction comes after a 13-year legal battle where witnesses claimed Uribe’s lawyer bribed ex-paramilitaries to testify favorably. Uribe, who served from 2002 to 2010, remains a polarizing figure, known for his tough stance against rebels but criticized for failing to tackle poverty and inequality.