Wyclef Jean Employee Freed From Haitian Kidnappers
An employee of Wyclef Jean who was kidnapped during the rapper's latest visit to his homeland of Haiti was recently freed by his captors.
According to The New York Daily News, Bidthlerson Brutus, a news man for Telemax, a network owned by Wyclef, was abducted near the Port-au-Prince headquarters of the station while Jean was giving away presents to children at the studios.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom for $250,000 for the safe return of Brutus.
Unable to talk to the hostage-takers directly, Wyclef sent pleas via TV appearances asking the hijackers to let Brutus go.
The following day, Brutus, who had been kept blindfolded for three days, was released without any money being offered to the kidnappers.
"We freed the journalist after considering how much effort Wyclef is doing to help our sisters and brothers in the forgotten ghettos," one of the captors, who identified himself as The Commander, told SOS Journalistes-Haiti, which helped negotiate Brutus' release.
Wyclef suspects the kidnapping may have been related to him laying off employees when he bought Telemax earlier this year.
"I think it was a person who felt hatred," Wyclef told the Daily News." Sometimes the evil side of a person's mind takes over. But later he asks, 'What the hell am I doing?' I'm just happy that Mr. Brutus is home alive."
Despite the incident, Wyclef is focused on bringing prosperity to his native land via his Yele Haiti relief program.
"I'm redoubling my efforts," emphasized Wyclef. "Nothing is going to discourage me."
AS SOHH previously reported, Jean has begun working on his sixth solo album. Titled The Second Wind, Jean has already crafted songs with Mary J Blige and Shakira. He also plans to collaborate with Carlos Santana, Destiny's Child and Whitney Houston, among others.
The Second Wind is scheduled to hit stores in the summer of 2007.
According to The New York Daily News, Bidthlerson Brutus, a news man for Telemax, a network owned by Wyclef, was abducted near the Port-au-Prince headquarters of the station while Jean was giving away presents to children at the studios.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom for $250,000 for the safe return of Brutus.
Unable to talk to the hostage-takers directly, Wyclef sent pleas via TV appearances asking the hijackers to let Brutus go.
The following day, Brutus, who had been kept blindfolded for three days, was released without any money being offered to the kidnappers.
"We freed the journalist after considering how much effort Wyclef is doing to help our sisters and brothers in the forgotten ghettos," one of the captors, who identified himself as The Commander, told SOS Journalistes-Haiti, which helped negotiate Brutus' release.
Wyclef suspects the kidnapping may have been related to him laying off employees when he bought Telemax earlier this year.
"I think it was a person who felt hatred," Wyclef told the Daily News." Sometimes the evil side of a person's mind takes over. But later he asks, 'What the hell am I doing?' I'm just happy that Mr. Brutus is home alive."
Despite the incident, Wyclef is focused on bringing prosperity to his native land via his Yele Haiti relief program.
"I'm redoubling my efforts," emphasized Wyclef. "Nothing is going to discourage me."
AS SOHH previously reported, Jean has begun working on his sixth solo album. Titled The Second Wind, Jean has already crafted songs with Mary J Blige and Shakira. He also plans to collaborate with Carlos Santana, Destiny's Child and Whitney Houston, among others.
The Second Wind is scheduled to hit stores in the summer of 2007.
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