Tarek William Saab
Acting Ombudsman; former Fiscal General of Venezuela (2017–2026)
At a glance
Tarek William Saab is a Venezuelan lawyer who served as Fiscal General de la República — head of the Public Ministry — from 2017 until February 25, 2026, when he resigned and was named acting Defensor del Pueblo (Ombudsman). He was replaced as Fiscal by Larry Devoe.
Who is Tarek William Saab?
Tarek William Saab Halabi is a Venezuelan lawyer, poet, and longtime Bolivarian-government official who served as Ombudsman of Venezuela (2014–2017) before being appointed Fiscal General de la República by the National Constituent Assembly in August 2017. He held the Fiscal post for nearly a decade and is on the OFAC SDN list under Venezuela-related programs.
His tenure as Fiscal General overlapped with the most significant period of foreign-investor litigation against Venezuela — the PDVSA 2020 bond default, the Crystallex writ-of-execution proceedings against CITGO, the prosecution of opposition leaders, and the major PDVSA-Cripto corruption probe that led to the 2024 arrest of former Vice President Tareck El Aissami.
Saab resigned the Fiscal post on February 25, 2026 — four days after the National Assembly approved the Amnesty Law and ten months after his Ombudsman predecessor Alfredo Ruiz left office. The same day, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez named him acting Defensor del Pueblo. He was replaced as Fiscal General by Larry Devoe, who was formally confirmed by the National Assembly on April 9, 2026.
Also known as: Tarek William Saab Halabi.
Career timeline
- 2014–2017 — Ombudsman of Venezuela (Defensor del Pueblo)
- 2017 — Appointed Fiscal General de la República by the National Constituent Assembly
- 2026 — Resigned as Fiscal General on February 25; named acting Defensor del Pueblo the same day
- 2026 — Replaced as Fiscal General by Larry Devoe (confirmed by the National Assembly April 9)
Network & connections
The following figures are part of Tarek William Saab's direct political, cabinet, or institutional network — useful for compliance teams mapping the wider Venezuelan power structure:
Frequently asked questions
▸ Who is Tarek William Saab?
▸ Why did Tarek William Saab resign as Fiscal General?
▸ Is Tarek William Saab the same person as Alex Saab?
Sources & further reading
- Wikipedia: Tarek William Saab
- CNN — Saab renuncia como fiscal de Venezuela
- CNN — Larry Devoe confirmado como fiscal general
Useful tools and explainers
- Browse all active OFAC Venezuela SDN designations — the live US Treasury tracker for individuals, entities, vessels, and aircraft.
- OFAC Venezuela sanctions checker — paste any name to check it against the active SDN list.
- Sector context for Tarek William Saab's role — regulatory framework, OFAC pathways, and current deal flow.
- How to invest in Venezuela (2026 sanctions-safe guide)
- Browse all Venezuelan power figures
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