Surf’s up for Ali Elamine amid 60 Minutes storm

WHILE the world waited to see if Sally Faulkner and the 60 Minutes crew were released from prison, her estranged husband went surfing.

WHILE the world was awaiting news on the fate of the Sally Faulkner and her Channel 9 new crew led by Tara Brown, her estranged husband did what he did every morning — went surfing.

Judge Rami Abdullah and lawyers representing various parties had hoped the couple, which never divorced, could have sorted out a deal earlier than occurred.

But talks had broken down from day 1 so the urbane Ali Elamine, who learnt to surf in California where he was sent to while Lebanon was at war, went back to his first love surfing off the village of Jiyeh 30km south of Beirut.

Clearing his mind ... Surf Lebanon surf school in Jiyeh, south of Beirut where Ali Elamine teaches surfing. Picture Ella Pellegrini

When News Corp Australia caught up with him over the weekend he was just out of the water from his 5.30am surf and confirmed the parties were a long way from settlement.

“I go most mornings just as the sun rises and when there are waves,” he said.

That was the case on Monday but then a deal was finally struck between Mr Elamine, Ms Faulkner and 60 Minutes.

Deal ... Ali Elamine laughing while posing for a photo after deal was reach between all parties, outside the Palace of Justice, Baabda, Lebanon. Picture: Liam Kidston.

His lawyer denied it was a holdout for greater compensation from Channel 9 and also dismissed suggestions Mr Elamine’s mother Ibtissam Berri, who was injured in the botched child snatching, was pressuring her son to reject all offers.

It appeared the stalling came from discussions about the future of the children and who would have sole custody and visitation rights. Ms Faulkner had wanted the children to be allowed to travel to Australia to visit her, a notion rejected amid fears like what Mr Elamine did in 2015 when they came to Lebanon, they would never be put back on the plane home.

Outside court after the deal was done, a relaxed Mr Elamine said he was happy to let his wife and the 60 Minutes crew return to the worried families.

“The deal was we drop charges against Sal and the people who weren’t on the ground doing the kidnapping,” he said.

Out ... Tara Brown, second left, and Sally Faulkner, centre, in a mini van between the three crew members of 60 Minutes. Picture: AP

“Sally did this out of motherly love. It just came to a scenario where if we dropped the case off Sal we had to drop the case off people who were not physically involved.

“That’s fine. At the end of the day it’s all for the kids. Down the line the kids might say why did you keep mum in jail? I don’t want that upon me. It’s for the best.”

Responding to suggestions he would receive compensation, he said he “did not sign anything, did not get anything”.

“First thing I said is money isn’t an issue for us.”

Asked how he felt about the news crew being released, he said: “They’re parents. They’re people just like everyone. They were probably just doing their jobs and didn’t expect it to go that way.

“For me, it was a bit unfair that they got involved. I know how media works and they’re going to twist and turn. But at the end of the day they’re people, they’re tradesman, that’s what they do.”