• Former president Álvaro Uribe sentenced to 12 years of house arrest.
• Convicted of witness tampering and bribery after a lengthy legal battle.
• Uribe plans to appeal the ruling, citing political persecution.
• The case may affect U.S.-Colombia relations amid concerns of judicial bias.

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest following his conviction for witness tampering and bribery, marking the first time a former head of state in Colombia has been convicted of a crime. The sentencing comes after a nearly six-month trial where prosecutors presented evidence indicating Uribe attempted to influence witnesses regarding his alleged connections to right-wing paramilitary groups in the 1990s, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

At age 73, Uribe has consistently denied any wrongdoing, referring to the judicial process as a form of "political persecution." Judge Sandra Heredia, who presided over the case, imposed a fine of $578,000 and barred Uribe from holding public office for over eight years. His legal team has announced intentions to appeal the ruling, which has stirred significant political debate, according to Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

Uribe was found guilty in a witness-tampering case that has lasted around 13 years, rooted in political confrontations with leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda. The convictions against Uribe came as he was accused of using his influence to pressure witnesses to testify in his favor. This has raised concerns about the implications for U.S.-Colombia relations, especially with comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticizing the legal proceedings as politically motivated, according to Le Monde and TRT Global.

The ruling has sparked mixed reactions in Colombia. Supporters of Uribe view the sentence as an unjust attack against a leader they believe was crucial for national security, while critics celebrate it as accountability for a polarizing figure long accused of human rights violations. Uribe's presidency from 2002-2010 was marked by military campaigns against leftist guerrillas which, though effective, have also been marred by allegations of human rights abuses. His conviction now adds to the storied narrative of modern Colombian politics, according to BBC and Anadolu Agency.