The family of a British man who has gone missing on the Caribbean island of St Lucia believes he has been kidnapped.
Cletus Hippolyte,86, from South London has not been seen since September 27 and his family is growing extremely concerned about him.
Hippolyte, a faith healer who was once hired by Amy Winehouse to help exorcise the late singer’s demons was visiting his family on the island where he has a house and business.
A friend of his family who asked not to be named said that the police has arrested someone who called them this week indicating that he had information about the missing man, and wanted to help the family get him since the senior citizen was in ‘a bad way’.
“He sounded so genuine and we were desperate,” the family friend said. ” The family are willing to go to all lengths to get him back as he is much loved and is being missed dearly. The call sounded promising and the family was happy to hear from the caller.”
The source revealed that the caller requested a number of items, including fuel for a boat, a mobile telephone, top-ups for his telephone, food water and clothing. The family was told to drop the items off at a particular location. They were also asked to take medication for Hippolyte.
“A woman in the South of the country was given the items, which included about £600 for the fuel that the male caller had requested.” The distressed family friend said.“For five hours he gave us the run-around,”
However, a tracker on the mobile telephone that the male caller had requested led the police to Soufriere where a young woman in her twenties was arrested Monday on suspicion of extortion.
The family believes that he is still alive and is being held against his will for a ransom. “We will not give up hope of finding him and will work with the police to help bring him home.” said the source.
Another family member from London where the British Born father of 10, once owned, a popular dance club in Paddington back in the ’60s where London’s black community would meet to socialise said: ” He is a family man and is very close to his family and friends both here in the UK and in St Lucia. He travels back and forth between the UK and St Lucia and it is out of kilter for him to go missing like that. We are all very worried about him as he is not well. He needs his medication.” said the family spokesman from Peckham, South London.
“The children are all grown up now and want their father back so they can look after and care for him. They are missing him badly and want him back as soon as possible and will do anything to bring him home.”