Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was sentenced Friday to 12 years of house arrest for witness tampering and bribery in a historic case that gripped the South American nation and tarnished the conservative strongman's legacy.

Uribe, who denies any wrongdoing, has pledged to appeal following his conviction for witness tampering and bribery.

The 73-year-old is the first ex-president in Colombia's history to be convicted of a crime.