Beirut dad Ali Elamine ‘holding all parties to ransom’

A father who stole his children from their Australian mother is holding all parties to ransom, lawyers say.

Ali Elamine leaving the Baabda court, Lebanon. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

A father who stole his children from their Australian mother is holding all parties to ransom with their fate resting in his hands, lawyers say.

Ali Elamine has the power to make a deal on his terms and will play a crucial role when the case returns to a Beirut court today.

Two lawyers involved in the case say they believe he is holding out for money, as News Corp can reveal he has rejected one potential cash payout from Nine.

Lawyer Ghassan Moghabghab, representing Mr Elamine’s estranged wife Sally Faulkner, last night said he believed the ­Lebanese-American father wanted money.

“Everything is linked to Ali’s decision. The whole case is linked to Ali’s decision,” he told News Corp.

“If Ali dropped the charges, the case is done. He is the obstacle in the whole case.”

Mr Moghabghab expressed frustration that Mr Elamine previously had said he wanted to drop charges against his wife but then changed his mind.

“He is waiting for money. Everything Ali is doing leads to one conclusion, that he is aiming for money,” he said.

By holding out on negotiations with his wife, the price of any financial windfall for pain and suffering was being driven up.

Mr Elamine has denied he wants compensation, insisting this week that he was refusing to make a deal with his wife because it would lead to leniency for the others involved.

“Money is not an issue,” he said.

Mr Moghabghab said he was aware Mr Elamine had said $US200,000 ($260,000) or $US300,000 meant nothing to him when it came to his children — raising the prospect that any payout, if entertained, would have to be higher. “Where did those numbers come from?” Mr Moghabghab said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Hussein Barjawi told News Corp a local lawyer for Nine had broached whether he would accept compensation. “Ali said his children were worth more than any amount of money that might be offered,” he said.

Lawyer Joe Karam, for detainee Adam Whittington from Child Abduction Recovery International, also questioned Mr Elamine’s motives. “Ali is the one that’s escalating and he is aiming for money. It’s obvious,” he said.

It has been reported that Mr Elamine is from a rich family, but neighbours yesterday said their wealth was moderate.