OPINION | Why did the Supreme Court of Justice decide to insure Uribe?

(Credit: RAUL ARBOLEDA / AFP via Getty Images)

Editor's Note: León Valencia Agudelo is a political scientist, former ELN guerrilla, columnist and author of several books. He established the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation and is a member of the Historical Memory Group. Follow him on Twitter. The opinions expressed in this column are exclusive to the author. 

(CNN Spanish) - There is a great stir in Colombia. Álvaro Uribe Vélez, twice president and perhaps the most skillful and popular of Colombian politicians in the last 50 years, has been in house arrest since Tuesday, while the investigation is being carried out by the Supreme Court of Justice for bribery and procedural fraud. .

For his supporters, among whom is President Iván Duque today, it is unheard of. But in reality it has all the legal logic in the world. The indications that the former president is responsible for the pressure and the bribery of witnesses, are quite noticeable, although Uribe denies them.

Paramilitaries Carlos Enrique Vélez and Juan Guillermo Monsalve maintain - with alleged evidence in hand - that the two lawyers, acting on behalf of Álvaro Uribe, contacted them to declare in favor of the former president in exchange for favors and money. They also wanted, as stated in the legal interceptions that the Court has, that they serve as witnesses against Senator Iván Cepeda and say that the legislator had sought them to falsely accuse Uribe. The lawyers, who are also on trial today, have not been able to avoid in court the accusation that they handed over large sums of money and offered aid to these witnesses. Uribe argues that he was not aware of this.

The story is quite long. Juan Guillermo Monsalve is a peasant who was born and raised on the Guacharacas estate, owned by Alberto Uribe Sierra, father of the former president. Monsalve grew up and became linked to the paramilitaries. He knew many secrets of the Uribe family. At some point, perhaps because the former president turned his back on the demobilization and disarmament agreement he had agreed with the paramilitaries and extradited his bosses, or it is not known for what other reason, Monsalve began to testify against Uribe, signaling him to contribute to found the Metro Block of the paramilitaries who operated in Medellín and in the Antioquia region.

In the same recordings obtained by the Court, Uribe, at first, would have attempted a conciliation with Monsalve through messengers who said they were going on his behalf.

According to the recordings, Monsalve did not yield to these proposals and persisted in his complaints. Subsequently, Monsalve - already a prisoner (he is serving a 35-year sentence for conspiracy to commit a crime and kidnapping) - began to suffer serious attacks on his life, from which he was saved by cunning. He blames Uribe for these actions, of which the former president has said that he was not a part. Hence a fierce enmity was born. Now Vélez and Monsalve are in society to seek Uribe's conviction and it seems that they will not give up on that endeavor.

The Supreme Court had no other way than to call Uribe to trial and, at the same time, order house arrest. As the essence of the crimes of which he is accused is obstruction of justice, the indication is that he has the will and the possibility of influencing or impeding the free exercise of investigators and judges. To avoid this, he orders his seclusion.

Now, house arrest is a tough decision, but a symbolic one. The Supreme Court took into account Uribe's representation and influence, the dignities he has held, and decided on a reclusion that in these times of pandemic does not make many differences with what the rest of Colombians live.

What follows is not easy. The pressures on the Court will increase. This Tuesday, a senator from the Democratic Center, Paola Holguín, hinted that the Military Forces should act to defend the former president. It is of course an outburst, but it cannot be underestimated. The legal battle will also be very hard. The lawyers defending Uribe are very powerful.

But there is one thing that President Uribe's supporters do not take into account. We are in the century of judges. Courts have enormous influence and power in today's world. Facing them has enormous costs. Much more if the evidence is consistent as it seems to be those involving former President Uribe.

READ: OPINION | The freedom of Álvaro Uribe Vélez

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