Graffiti Pops Up in Caracas Praising Maduro Financier Saab

Alex Saab is awaiting extradition hearing on bribery charges
Colombian moneyman accused of financing Maduro’s regime

A pedestrian passes in front of “Free Alex Saab” graffiti “ in Caracas, on Feb. 4.Photographer: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg

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By Patricia Laya and Alex Vasquez

February 4, 2021 at 9:56 PM UTC

Updated on

February 5, 2021 at 2:51 PM UTC

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President Nicolas Maduro’s Colombian financier Alex Saab is being labeled “the people’s savior” in new graffiti across Caracas ahead of a key hearing Friday on his alleged role in bribing Venezuelan officials.

Stenciled graffiti of Saab’s face and pleas for his freedom started to appear on Caracas’ main avenues before a court hearing in Cape Verde, where he has been detained since June pending a U.S. extradition request. The mysterious scribbles reading “The people are with Alex Saab” and “Freedom for Venezuela’s diplomat, fighter and compatriot,” -- when most Venezuelans do not know who Saab is -- suggest the government considers the case important enough to try to drum up popular support.