Colombia’s former president Álvaro Uribe has petitioned the Supreme Court to lift his house arrest while he appeals a 12-year sentence for witness tampering and obstruction of justice.

A Colombian judge on Friday sentenced former president Álvaro Uribe to 12 years of house arrest for witness tampering, making him the first ex-head of state in the country’s history to be convicted and sentenced.

Mr. Uribe, a towering figure in Colombian politics, was accused of trying to bribe a former paramilitary to retract testimony damaging to him.