UPDATE on Kidnapping charges against Tara Brown and 60 Minutes crew

Kidnapping charges against Tara Brown and a 60 Minutes crew detained in Lebanon have been dropped, confirms 9News.

A lawyer for one of the accused emerged from a Beirut court on Wednesday afternoon local time told waiting press that the charges against the Channel Nine 60 Minutes crew have been dropped, as well as those against Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner, whose case they were documenting.

According to Nine reporter Tom Steinford if the 60 Minutes team can come up with compensation by 2pm Beirut time (9pm AEDT) the crew will be released today and free to fly home.

Tweets by @tomsteinfort

Earlier this week a lawyer for Sally Faulkner, Ghassan Moghabghab told News Corp that an agreement had been reached between Ms Faulkner and her estranged husband, Ali Elamine, the father of her two children. While he argued they had merely been talking to lawyers.

At the time Mr Moghabghab described the negotiations as being “very positive”.

“Somehow we reached a deal,” Mr Moghabghab had said.

Ali also spoke to 3AW radio’s Neil Mitchell, describing the situation as “bullcrap” and addressing the ongoing negotiations with his estranged wife, Sally Faulkner.

“They came into our country and they’ve done something that’s illegal,” he said. “If the tables were turned, if I were to show up in Australia and try to kidnap someone, I’d probably be shot on the spot, called a terrorist.”

This is a good outcome. Although I fear there will be more to come.

This is a breaking story. More information will be added as it comes to hand.

22 Comments

- - serotonin said
  - 29 Apr 2016
    10:01 am
Sounds like a very complicated situation. I need to read more about it.

- - mom90758 said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    1:36 pm
It’s good for the crew of 60 Minutes. But not at all for leaving the Child Abduction Recovery International (CARI) to face punishment.
- mom19782016 replied
  
  18 Jun 2016 , 8:30 pm
  Yes, everyone seems to have forgotten about them!
- - mom#1 said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    1:06 pm
I hope the children are ok. They must be very confused.

- - meedee said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    10:33 am
They are saying that they are free to come home but the people from the child agency that were snatching the children are still locked up and not free.

- - kellstar said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    7:47 am
Seriously what were they thinking, they should of known better. No sympathy for them sorry.

- - mom107723 said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    6:36 am
They are certainly very lucky people, what not to do.

- - mum4107 said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    5:42 am
I’m so glad they are free. Very sad that the mum has lost custody

- - mom93821 said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    4:50 am
Must be a relief to be released, but this story seems quite complicated.
- mom93821 replied
  
  22 Apr 2016 , 6:45 am
  There will be a lot more to this story.
- - aprilb1 said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    12:18 am
Sad that the mum lost custody. Bet they are happy to be free though

- - mom160421 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    11:25 pm
I hope Ms Faulkner can pursue some sort of joint custody agreement once she and the others are back in Australia.

- - lizgh said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    11:06 pm
How sad is for this mom and her kids.
We need to be careful when going to a different country, you need to try to find out their laws…

- - curlytops said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    10:57 pm
What a traumatic ordeal they have been through.

- - rachelvk said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    9:45 pm
It is very sad that the mother has lost custody. If nothing else it is a lesson that people need to be careful when treading murky waters in foreign countries.

- - BellaB said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    9:20 pm
I understand she had to give up custody. That feels wrong.

- - mom81879 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    9:13 pm
All I can say is……they are all very lucky they have channel 9 behind them with all their financial support. Without it, they would all be screwed

- - Nas01 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    9:12 pm
Great outcome but if it really came down to monetary value for their release its sad. I hope all involved think if the innocent kids in these cases and follow legal channels.

- - damish70 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    8:46 pm
I hope this gets resolved quickly for all involved

- - taynik46 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    8:41 pm
i would like more background on him and how he got the children out of australia in the first place, if she was awarded full custody in an australian court. surely if that is the case then there should be some legal grounds for police/govt department to go to Beruit and return the children to the rightful custodian of them? I dont understand how/why he is going to get them when technically they weren’t his to take (if you get what I mean). either way I hope this is not some sort of scam to get money or payment for their stories?

- - youngoldlady said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    8:32 pm
This sounds like the father is getting money for himself, maybe full custody of children and court costs. If he took the child on the understanding of only 3 week visit then he is at fault. Yes it was the wrong way to try to get the children back and will now make it harder for full custody parents to get their children back if they let the other one take the children out of the country or even stay in the country.
My own opinion but think he was only out for any money he could or why was he talking to channel nine. I hope those children will know their mother loves them and did not abandon them.

- - june11 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    8:23 pm
The father obviously pretends not to know the Australian Laws. Unless it was a seige and he made threats and indicated he was going to carry them out, he would not be shot on the spot. I would like to know if he actually legally took them out of Australia. My original understanding was that he had them for an access visit and failed to return them, then notified her that he had no intention of doing so. Who signed the passport application forms?? Possiblity 60 minutes crew have to pay court costs and that’s what they are calling compensation.