Neptali Segovia: Venezuelan Crossword Setter Accused Of Assassination Plot

Neptali Segovia is a long-time Venezuelan crossword puzzle maker, who is now accused of coding a plot to assassinate President Hugo Chavez‘s brother, Adan, in Wednesday’s crossword.

The Daily Mail reports that pundit Perez Pirela made a comment on live television against the Ultimas Noticias newspaper that published the crossword, stating:

“These sorts of messages were used a lot in World War Two.”

Pirela then went on to compare the puzzle’s answers to coded messages that Charles de Gaulle sent to the French resistance during Worl War II.

Segovia was taken in by police for questioning regarding the puzzle’s answers, which included “Adan,” “asesinen” (meaning to kill), and “rafaga” (which means a burst of gunfire or a gust of wind). Afterwards, he was quoted as saying:

“I am the first to want to clarify this. I have nothing to hide because the work I have been doing for the last 17 years has only a cultural and education intention, and is transparent. I was treated respectfully. They took down my comments and made a routine summary. Then they took me home.”

Following the uproar over Neptali Segovia’s crossword puzzle, another news paper, the Tal Cual, who is known for being a militantly pro-opposition paper, fought back with a front-page crossword in its Friday edition, which highlighted what they believe to be the nation’s faults.

The puzzle included clues like, “What officials do when they misuse public funds” (Corruption), “Perhaps the most abused law?” (Constitution), and “Name of supreme leader who governs our destiny? Bearded.” (Fidel Castro).

According to Reuters, Segovia maintains his innocence in the situation, and is cooperating fully with investigators.