60 Minutes have ‘reached a deal’ in botched child recovery operation
TARA Brown and her 60 Minutes crew have left prison and flown out of Lebanon after charges against them were dropped.
AUSTRALIAN mother Sally Faulkner, reporter Tara Brown and her 60 Minutes crew have been released from prison after charges against them were dropped.
Brown, Ben Williamson, David Ballment and Stephen Rice walked free about 4pm Wednesday local time, with “smiles as wide as the Harbour Bridge” according to 9 News reporter Tom Steinfort.
They got straight into a waiting mini-van without making any comments and headed for the airport before flying out of Lebanon overnight.
Speaking with Nine on the way to the airport, Brown said the first thing she did on release was “call home straight away” and speak with husband John McAvoy.
“But not the kids yet, I can’t wait to speak to them obviously, although they have no idea about any of this,” she said.
Ms Faulkner confirmed she had also called home, speaking with her Brisbane husband.
“It’s great to talk to home and it’s great to be going home,” she said.
“I mean they treated us well, I can’t complain about that, it’s just the uncertainty that sort of kept me awake at night, not knowing if it was going to be a life-long sentence or what.
“I’m just so glad to be out of there.”
The group had been jailed after being charged with kidnapping charges related to a botched attempt to abduct Ms Faulkner’s two children from their father Ali Elamine in Beirut.
The unexpected release came after the network reportedly paid an undisclosed sum to Mr Elamine to have charges against them dropped. He has denied receiving any payment.
However some of the charges from Lebanese authorities remain. Judge Rami Abdullah will now investigate whether they should be upheld and said the Australian team may be summoned back to the country or the trial could proceed in their absence.
Mr Elamine also dropped the charges against his estranged wife, Ms Faulkner, saying he did not want his children to think he’d left their mother in jail.
In exchange, she must grant him a divorce and custody of the children, with rights to visit them in a third country or Lebanon, but not in Australia.
Ms Faulkner will remain in Beirut and meet with Mr Elamine, their children and the judge on Thursday.
Child Abduction Recovery Network boss Adam Whittington and fellow Briton Craig Michael remain in jail, with their lawyer questioning the ethics of the Australian network. Joe Karam said: “They came together, they should leave together.”
DRAMATIC MORNING
The release comes after a fast-moving morning during which Nine made compensation and scrambled to complete paperwork before a 2pm deadline in order to have its crew released.
However, Judge Rami Abdullah warned all the charges will not disappear and they may be tried in absentia if necessary.
“A crime has happened and everyone has a role in this affair,” Judge Abdullah said. “I will decide after my consideration,” he said.
Mr Elamine has denied he will receive any compensation and maintained his personal charges against the organiser of the operation, Adam Whittington and his crew Craig Michael, Mohammed Hamza and Khaled Barbour.
He said he felt a “man-to-man kinship” with two members of the Nine crew who were not at the scene when the kidnap took place.
“Ben (Williamson) was a bit emotional and the sound recordist too and I put myself in their place, Ben was frustrated because he wasn’t seeing his own kids and I felt bad about that,’’ Mr Elamine said.
Reporters in Lebanon described scenes of jubilation from Australian officials in the courthouse this morning.
The lawyer for Ms Faulkner, Ghassan Moghabghab, told News Corp on Monday a deal had been reached prior to the parties appearing before a judge. He described it as “very positive”.
“Somehow we reached a deal,” he said.
Jubilation by Aust embassy official and Nine lawyer as deal done. #60mins to be free maybe overnight, possibly tomorrow. $ to be paid.
— Jacquelin Magnay (@jacquelinmagnay) April 20, 2016
Great news #60 mins have to pay compensation by 2pm and will be released today.
— Jacquelin Magnay (@jacquelinmagnay) April 20, 2016
The accused were brought before judge Abdullah about 8pm AEST. A hearing in the matter, originally scheduled for 7pm at Beirut’s Palace of Justice, was brought forward for the judge to consider the deal at 6pm.
They entered in handcuffs and left with their wrists free. Channel Seven’s Europe correspondent Cath Turner reported all crew members were “now free” about 8.45pm.
“Bail has been paid and they are free to leave Lebanon after some formalities,” she tweeted.
Channel 9 lawyer says all crew are now free. Bail has been paid and they are free to leave Lebanon after some formalities.
— cath turner (@turnerscope) April 20, 2016
‘THEY WANTED TO GET THE SCOOP’
The lawyer representing Sally Faulkner in Lebanon has blamed the child recovery agency CARI for landing 60 Minutes and his client in jail.
Ghassan Moghabghab was asked on Channel 7’s Sunrise this morning whether Ms Faulker blamed 60 Minutes for the mess.
“No, not at all,” he replied.
“Because, they helped her ... to pay the company who issued the action in Beirut. 60 Minutes, they wanted to get the scoop and they paid everything to help Sally to try to reach her children.
“She doesn’t blame them. If she wants to blame somebody, I think she should blame the company that made up the job. It was unprofessional job.”
Mr Moghabghab said he didn’t know whether 60 Minutes had paid compensation to the children’s father Ali Elamine.
“I don’t know, but he was putting too much pressure on (Ms Faulkner) during the process in front of the judge, on the media, everything. I think he is trying to benefit from this ... to get whatever he wants (out of) this situation.”
CHILDREN EXPECTED TO STAY IN LEBANON
The dramatic release follows a family battle between the estranged couple who were living in Lebanon with Mr Elamine. Ms Faulkner claimed her estranged husband was keeping them despite a Family Court ruling she had rightful custody.
Mr Whittington, who organised the abduction attempt, said he was paid $115,000 in two payments from the Nine Network. His lawyer said Wednesday the court has been shown receipts of payment for $69,000 from the Nine Network.
Fate of Adam Whittington from Child Abduction Recovery International is unknown. His lawyer does not look happy #60mins
— David Murray (@TheMurrayD) April 20, 2016
Mr Elamine, who runs a surf school in Lebanon, had previously said he was not ready to drop any charges. He said he could not risk the 60 Minutes crew escaping punishment by dropping charges against his ex-wife.
“It’s so weird. Sometimes I feel like, yeah, I mean, (60 Minutes) poked their noses into a family/personal issue. It’s not like they’re going around, fighting terrorism or something,” Mr Elamine said.
He said he had been asked to consider dropping charges but “no one wants to take the blame for anything”.
“I don’t want Sal in jail, that’s for sure … but I don’t think anyone would be asking me to drop the charges if one of the kids got hurt,” he said.
Steinfort said he spoke with network boss Darren Wick outside court. He said Mr Wick was waiting for an official ruling from the judge before celebrating.
“He’ll believe it when he sees a judge write it down on a piece of paper,” Steinfort told Nine News.
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