Previously, a former paramilitary leader declared that Uribe’s security policy worked because paramilitaries supported it.

On Thursday, the trial against former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe entered a new chapter with the testimony of Fabian Rojas, who worked as an advisor to the Legislative Work Unit (UTL) when the far-right politician was a senator.

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The Prosecutor’s Office summoned Rojas to testify in the investigation into the crimes of bribery, bribery in criminal proceedings, and procedural fraud, which Uribe has been charged with.

According to the Supreme Justice Court’s Investigation Chamber, the UTL was used by Uribe for activities unrelated to its functions in Congress, specifically to employ legislative officials for the collection of evidence and the manipulation of witnesses in judicial proceedings involving him.

Fabian Rojas’s testimony followed that of former commander of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), Salvatore Mancuso, a far-right paramilitary who declared that Uribe’s “democratic security policy” was backed by paramilitarism. “His policy worked because we were behind it,” he said during a judicial statement on Monday.

The Role of Legislative Officials in Witness Manipulation

The Prosecutor’s Office maintains that members of the UTL, under Uribe’s direction, coordinated efforts to obtain favorable statements from prisoners in jails such as La Picota and Combita.

Their actions included collecting letters in which paramilitaries retracted previous accusations against the former president. These activities exceeded the legal functions of the UTL and would constitute an attempt to obstruct justice.

In his statement, Rojas detailed how meetings were coordinated with the then-director of La Picota prison, Rodrigo Ricaurte, and attorney Angela Lopez, who represented paramilitaries.

These meetings were the starting point for obtaining statements from three inmates in Combita, whose letters were later presented to the Supreme Court as evidence in favor of Uribe.

Diego Cadena at the Center of the Controversy

Attorney Diego Cadena is accused of being responsible for visiting prisons and contacting inmates to obtain fraudulent statements.

Uribe was allegedly aware of these efforts, which contradicts statements made by the former president and his defense attorneys, who insist that the far-right politician never attempted to bribe or manipulate witnesses.

However, in his testimony, Rojas confirmed that Cadena acted under UTL instructions and that Uribe was aware of the progress in gathering evidence. Nonetheless, Uribe’s defense has dismissed these accusations, arguing that Rojas has not directly implicated the former president in any wrongdoing.

Doubts About the Authenticity of the Inmates’ Letters

One of the most controversial aspects of the case is the letters allegedly signed by inmates from Combita, which were presented by Uribe’s defense. Rojas expressed doubts about the authenticity of these letters, pointing out that two of them had the same handwriting.

According to his testimony, the former Colombian president was informed of these irregularities, but the letters were presented anyway.

The Prosecutor’s Office has stated that these letters are part of a strategy to manipulate the judicial process and discredit the accusations against Uribe, which include links to paramilitary groups.

The former president’s defense insists that the letters are legitimate and aim to prove that Senator Ivan Cepeda, Uribe’s main accuser, manipulated witnesses to harm him.

The trial against Alvaro Uribe has not only legal but also political implications. Over the past few decades, Uribe has been one of the most influential and active figures in Colombian politics. Just a few weeks ago, he expressed his intention to run as a vice-presidential candidate in the March 2026 elections.

Meanwhile, the trial against him is racing against the clock, as the accusations against him will expire in October 2025. If this happens, he would go unpunished under Colombian law.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EL Espectador – El Tiempo

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