60 Minutes: Australian soldier Adam Whittington meets with judge over botched child recovery case

THE former Aussie soldier hired by 60 Minutes for its botched snatch and grab story has met privately with the judge investigating the kidnap case.

Adam Whittington remains behind bars in Beirut over 60 Minutes’ botched child recovery scandal. Picture: YouTube

THE judge investigating the 60 Minutes kidnap case says he will decide next week whether to grant bail to former Australian soldier Adam Whittington.

Mr Whittington’s meeting with the judge was brief, and was followed quickly by a separate meeting between the judge and his colleague Craig Michael.

Lebanese men Mohammed Hamza and Khaled Barbour also remain behind bars over the botched grab of Brisbane mum Sally Faulkner’s two children in Beirut last month.

“It’s a long, ongoing investigation that needs not less than 10 days,” Judge Abdullah said after the meetings.

“However I’ll make a decision on bail next week.”

60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown was detained in Beirut over the child recovery mission. Picture: AFP

Lawyer Joe Karam, for Mr Whittington, said Nine had not offered assistance as he worked to secure the release of the four remaining detainees.

“It’s one full process for everybody,” Mr Karam said from court.

“Adam Whittington and Craig Michael do not believe in segregation like Channel Nine believe. We believe in human, fair treatment for all.

“That’s our wish, that’s our work, that’s what we were aiming for and that’s what we will do.”

He was “positive” about the chances of a resolution as he denied dad Ali Elamine had demanded $500,000 for Mr Whittington’s release.

“We didn’t have any demand,” he said at the court last night.

“Our clients do not have this amount of money anyway. They are not Channel Nine.”

He added later: “The money that was reported is not true.”

Relatives of the two Lebanese men have also made direct pleas to Mr Elamine and his family for mercy, News Corp has been told.

Both are from poor families and cannot afford to pay compensation for their release.

Lawyer Hussein Berjawi, for Mr Elamine, also responded to a public complaint from Ms Faulkner that she was being denied contact with her children.

He said there was a falling out after Ms Faulkner refused to provide vaccination records or a copy of the children’s passports.