The Colombian court ordered the immediate release of former President Uribe.

On August 19th, local time, the Higher Court of Bogota, Colombia ordered the immediate release of former president Uribe. On August 1st, local time, a court in the capital city of Bogota made a first-instance judgment, ruling that former president Uribe was guilty of bribery and fraud, sentencing him to 12 years of house arrest. Uribe became the first former president in Colombian history to be criminally convicted. According to the verdict read by the presiding judge Sandra Arevalo, in addition to the 12 years of house arrest, Uribe was also fined 3.4 billion pesos and was deprived of the right to hold public office for 100 months and 20 days.