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 found guilty of witness tampering and bribery charges in a historic trial that gripped the South American nation and threatened to tarnish the conservative strongman’s legacy.

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