LatinNews Daily - 11 April 2024

*Colombia’s former president Álvaro Uribe (2022-2010) has slammed the recent announcement by the attorney general’s office that he will go on trial to face charges of bribing witnesses and undermining the course of justice. In a statement dated 9 April, the AG’s office said that it had filed an indictment against Uribe before the supreme court. The AG’s office has been investigating Uribe for alleged witness tampering for some time. Former AG Francisco Barbosa (2020-2024), whose term ended in February, unsuccessfully attempted to shut down the investigation three times, meeting stiff opposition from the courts. Barbosa’s successor, Luz Adriana Camargo, took over in March and appears to be pushing forward with the case. In a video released on social media, Uribe stated that trial was being carried out due to “political persecution, personal animosity, political vengeance, without evidence”. The case goes back to 2012 when Uribe sued left-wing senator Iván Cepeda for linking him to the activities of right-wing paramilitaries. The case went to the supreme court which, in 2018, turned the tables, ruling not only that Cepeda had no case to answer but also that Uribe should be investigated for witness tampering and fraud.