A Colombian judge on Monday convicted former President Alvaro Uribe of abuse of process and bribery of a public official in a long-running witness tampering case, making him the country’s first ex-president to ever be found guilty at trial.

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest for witness tampering and bribery.

The ruling, which Uribe’s legal team said he will appeal, is the latest in a long-running, hugely politicised case.