The National Protection Unit of Colombia issued a statement announcing that security would be reinforced for Judge Sandra Heredia, who is overseeing the case involving Álvaro Uribe. A request for protective measures was submitted on February 11, and after a risk assessment, the unit concluded that it was necessary to strengthen the protection of the 44th Criminal Circuit Judge. In recent days, media outlets affiliated with the former president, who was found guilty of witness tampering and procedural fraud in a landmark trial on Monday, have focused on profiling the magistrate, as well as publishing her personal and family information.
00:00The National Protection Union of Colombia issued a statement reporting that security would be reinforced for Alvaro Uribe's case judge, Sandra Heredia.
00:09A request for protective measures was submitted on February 11th, and after a risk assessment, the unit concluded it was necessary to strengthen the 44th Criminal Circuit judge's protection.
00:18In recent dates, media related to the former president, who has been found guilty of witness tampering and procedural fraud in a landmark trial on Monday, were dedicated to profile the magistrates in addition to publishing her personal family information.
00:33And on Monday, the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, denied that there is political persecution from his government against former president Alvaro Uribe.
00:41This in response to the accusation of a senator of the party of Uribe, who accused the head of state of influencing the judicial decision against the former president.
00:49In this context, President Petro wrote on his ex-account that his government does not persecute anyone for political, sexual, gender, or religious reasons,
00:58emphasizing that he does not pressure the justice system, which is completely independent from the government.
01:03President Petro also criticized journalism for its work during the judicial process against Uribe and the pressures exerted against the judge, Sandra Liliana Heredia.
01:12In addition, Colombian President Gustavo Petro firmly responded to statements made by U.S. Secretary of State Marcos Rubio, who had criticized the court ruling against former president Alvaro Uribe.
01:27Through his social media accounts, the Secretary of State asserted that Uribe was a victim of persecution by radical judges, claiming that his only crime was defending his country.
01:36The Colombian president responded quickly, describing these statements as unacceptable interference in the country's internal affairs.
01:43He emphasized that the world must respect Colombia's judges and recalled that many magistrates have been murdered for their commitment to justice.
01:51Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, joining the rejection, pointed out that Rubio's comments were an attack on Colombia's sovereignty.
01:58Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, joining the