In a historic ruling, former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest after being convicted of witness tampering and fraud. The 73-year-old conservative leader, who served from 2002 to 2010, is now the first former president in Colombia’s history to be criminally convicted.

Uribe, a polarizing figure in Colombian politics, was also barred from holding public office and fined $578,000. He continues to deny all wrongdoing, claiming the case is politically motivated and intended to silence his voice as part of the democratic opposition. He has announced plans to appeal.

The charges stem from a 13-year-long investigation into allegations that Uribe, through his lawyer Diego Cadena, bribed jailed paramilitaries to give false testimony in his favor. Cadena also faces legal proceedings, though both he and Uribe maintain the accusations are unfounded.

Uribe remains a powerful and influential figure in Colombia. He was once widely praised for his hardline stance against the leftist rebel group FARC — a position supported by the U.S. government — but was equally criticized for turning a blind eye to human rights abuses and for alleged ties to right-wing paramilitary groups.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio condemned the ruling, claiming Colombia’s judiciary has been “weaponized” and defending Uribe as a patriotic leader. The ruling further fuels political division in a country still grappling with the aftermath of decades-long armed conflict and a fragile peace process with FARC.

Despite the 2016 peace accord, violence continues in many regions of Colombia as armed groups vie for control of cocaine routes and territory — a reality that underscores the deep challenges facing Colombian democracy and justice.