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Gustavo Petro speaks out on the Álvaro Uribe Vélez trial; this is what he says

Semana

Colombia

Tuesday, July 29


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More than seven hours after the hearing began to read the verdict against former President Álvaro Uribe, President Petro asserted on social media that, regardless of the final verdict, the national government will guarantee the protection of Judge Sandra Heredia and her family.

"It is the government's duty to guarantee the protection of the judge and her family, regardless of the outcome of her ruling. In a democratic government, judges are not pressured; they are protected in their freedom," the president wrote on his X account.

This is how the hearing goes

The decisions in this case come 11 years after the criminal proceedings against former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez began. The court will make a decision, and it will be known whether the former president is acquitted or convicted.

During the reading of the ruling, Judge Sandra Heredia confirmed that former President Álvaro Uribe is guilty of bribery in criminal proceedings. She also confirmed the former president's commission of procedural fraud.

Broadcast of the hearing in which the ruling in the case against former President Álvaro Uribe will be announced. | Photo: Screenshot, Superior Council of the JudiciaryTransmisión de la audiencia en la que se anunciará el fallo en el caso contra el expresidente Álvaro Uribe.

"Given the above, and in the interest of preserving the principle of consistency and adhering to the indictment, procedural fraud materialized," the judge stated.

To prove this punishable conduct, the judge spoke about the role of Tuso Sierra: “ That meeting was not held secretly with the aim of harming the accused,” she said.

The judge began her presentation of this charge by speaking about one of the most controversial statements of the process: that of the extradited paramilitary Juan Carlos Sierra, alias Tuso Sierra.

The judge discredited this testimony. As will be recalled, El Tuso had said that Iván Cepeda had traveled to offer him asylum in exchange for testifying against the former president.

Heredia asserted that the testimony was distorted after hearing the account of former minister Iván Velásquez, who at the time worked at the Supreme Court and described how such testimonies were received.

The official also analyzed an incident that occurred at the Cómbita prison in Boyacá, an episode in which she also mentioned Iván Cepeda. There, the judge examined whether Diego Cadena went to that prison to try to change some inmates' statements about the former president.

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