Mick Gatto, John Khoury asked to help free 60 Minutes crew
CHANNEL Nine has refuted claims they sought the help of Mick Gatto and John Khoury, saying ‘every man and his dog’ was trying to claim credit for bringing the 60 Minutes crew home.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
INDUSTRIAL negotiators Mick Gatto and John Khoury say they were approached to help free Sally Faulkner and the 60 Minutes crew from Lebanon.
Mr Khoury confirmed the pair were approached on a “no win, no fee” basis as the drama played out in Beirut earlier this week.
“We were approached,” Mr Khoury said.
“I did speak to them. We were going to go over there.”
But a Channel Nine spokesperson said they did not enlist the services of the colourful pair.
“Absolutely not. Every man and his dog is now trying to claim credit for our team coming back,” Victoria Buchan, Director of Communications for Nine, told the Herald Sun.
Reporter Tara Brown, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist
David Ballment arrived back in Sydney at 10pm last night.
A judge had dropped charges against them over their botched child recovery mission, after a deal with the father of Ms Faulkner’s two children, Ali Elamine.
“Thank god they’re back,” Mr Khoury said.
“We have contacts over there.
“Obviously, you know what it’s like, it was going to be a Slater and Gordon (style) no win, no fee.”
The pair have been business partners in Arbitrations and Mediations.
Melbourne identity Mr Gatto shot dead hitman Andrew Veniamin in a Carlton restaurant in 2004, during Melbourne’s gangland war.
He was found not guilty of murder on the grounds of self-defence.
He has ties to union heavyweights and has recently become involved in the fight game.
Mr Khoury would not say who from Channel Nine has approached him.
They were making arrangements to travel to Lebanon this week before Ms Faulkner, Tara Brown and the crew had most of the charges dropped and were bailed.
Mr Khoury, who is Lebanese, is understood to have extensive contracts in the country.