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Álvaro Uribe acquitted of all charges as Bogotá court overturns previous conviction
Bogotá, October 21, 2025 — The Superior Court of Bogotá has acquitted former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe of all criminal charges, overturning his previous conviction and declaring that the key evidence used against him was obtained illegally.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday morning, represents a major legal and political development in Colombia. Uribe, who had been convicted of procedural fraud and witness bribery, was cleared after the court ruled that wiretapped phone conversations between the ex-president and his lawyer, Diego Cadena, were conducted without legal authorization.
According to the judgment read by Magistrate Manuel Antonio Merchán, the intercepted communications could not be admitted as valid evidence because they violated due process and the right to defense.
The decision also dismissed allegations of bribery involving former paramilitary member Carlos Enrique Vélez, concluding that there was insufficient proof of wrongdoing by Uribe.
By annulling the irregularly obtained evidence, the Superior Court effectively closed a case that has dominated Colombia’s public debate for years, touching on questions of judicial independence and political accountability.
The ruling reinforces Uribe’s claim of innocence and is expected to reshape discussions about the credibility of Colombia’s justice system and the balance between law and politics in the country.
