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A former Neighbours star who has been involved in a public international child custody battle will reportedly return to Australia with her young son by Friday.

According to the Daily Mail, Eliza Szonert with the assistance of a child recovery agency, took her son from the child’s father in a restaurant in Malaysia in early December.  A video was released to media outlets of the stressful operation.

Since retrieving her son, Eliza has been stranded in Malaysia, as her ex-husband, Ashley Crick, has refused to release her and her son’s passports.  Eliza also spent 24 hours in a Malaysian police cell for refusing to reveal her son’s location.  

Eliza has now used a Facebook post to share her latest news:

“we’re coming home at last. After a few months I wouldn’t ever want to relieve, it’s finally all over.”  she said, “Thank you everyone for your love, support and assistance during this exhausting ordeal. More than anything I’m just looking forward to getting home and spending time with my son again.”

An operative with the child recovery agency who assisted Eliza retrieve her son, Col Chapman, confirmed the mother and son are returning to Australia via social media:

“Another successful recovery, another successful outcome. Mother, child and extended family all returning to Australia.’

Mr Chapman told Fairfax on Wednesday the pair will return within 48 hours away after the child’s father, Australian businessman and musician Ashley Crick, surrendered their passports.

Image source: Getty Images
Image source: Getty Images

According to reports from Fairfax Media, extensive legal action has resulted in Col Chapman, Mum Eliza’s family and Dad Ashley’s family are required to accompany Eliza and her son on the flight to Australia.

Col shared via social media that, “every allegation thrown out, disproved or dropped and back to Australia for everyone’ and that ‘Malaysian Police (are) now asking for autographs and selfies.”

Eliza and her ex-husband Ashley have been embroiled in a bitter legal custody battle regarding their son, which does not yet seem to be over.  A statement was released about the situation that stated:

“Further action is now in the hands of the lawyers of both parties, aided by the Australian Embassy.”

Image Source: Getty Images

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  • gosh what a harrowing time they have had… hope your lives are happy back here in Australia

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  • Custody battles can get so nasty! Almost like a person contesting a will even though both solicitors says it is a proper bona fide legal will. Our justice system and mediations are one big fat unfair joke!

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  • I can’t see where it is stated how old the little boy is. Unless the grandparents are living in Malaysia I don’t see why they have to be involved.

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  • just hope the future for their son is one with happiness,that the parents can come to a suitable outcome for all.

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  • what a terribly sad story – how unfortunate that this family find themselves in this situation.

    I hope that they can sort out a resolution in a more amicable fashion, rather than having to put the poor child through a child recovery agency takedown.

    I wish them lots of peace and happiness for their future


    • yes it is sad that this is all playing out in front of their innocent child.

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  • This is sad for everyone and must be scary for their son.

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  • Wouldn’t it be nice if parents acted in the best interests of the child instead of their own selfish needs?

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  • Wow I feel for the child in all this, these battles end up hurting the child most

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  • I feel for the child, custody battles aren’t fun.

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  • wow i bet that she was feeling so many emotions! it must have been amazing to pick him up and her adrenalin must have been going crazy!

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  • I feel for the little boy. He’s the one stuck in the middle of all of this. I hope once they’re back to Australia that she gets to enjoy time with her little man and that paparazzi will leave them alone so they can do that!

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  • Custody is so difficult, especially when it is between countries. Just goes to show that it is difficult no matter who you are.

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  • What a horrible ordeal to go through. I’m glad its all worked out


    • These ordeals are harrowing for those involved in custody battles.

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  • How terrible for the poor children. Hope they can come to some sort of a resolution that will be bets for all parties.

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  • Lke hs

    Reply

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