Colombia ex-president says he'll be arrested over witness tampering

"Being deprived of my freedom is very sad for me, my wife, my family and for the Colombians who still think I did something good for the homeland," Uribe wrote on Twitter.

The court itself has not published its decision but local media say Uribe, now a senator, is to be held under house arrest.

The 68-year-old, who is the political mentor of current leader Ivan Duque and the head of the ruling Democratic Center party, was president from 2002-10 and remains one of Colombia's most influential politicians.

On Tuesday the court held a hearing into his case, in which Uribe is accused of using his position as a senator to tamper with a witness.

He faces bribery and procedural fraud charges and could serve up to eight years in prison if convicted.

The right-wing politician was questioned by judges last October -- the first time a former president had appeared before Colombia's highest court.

In 2012, Uribe filed a complaint against leftist senator Ivan Cepeda, who Uribe says hatched a plot to falsely link him to paramilitary groups.

But in 2018, the court instead opened a witness tampering investigation against Uribe.

His efforts as president to stand up to Marxist guerrillas made Uribe a hero to some but saw him heavily criticized by others.

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