Australian Network, 'Channel Nine's 60 Minutes paid $115,000 for the abduction of two children off the street in Beirut' - Lebanese authorities

  • Authorities say they have evidence Channel Nine paid for the abduction 
  • Say they have a signed statement from a member of the 'recovery team'
  • Nine reportedly paid $115,000 for the operation, but this is unconfirmed   
  • CCTV footage shows two children being snatched off the street in Beirut 
  • The mother, Sally Faulkner, has been arrested in Lebanon after the incident
Continue after the cut ....

  • Australian journalist Tara Brown and her crew also detained in Lebanon ...Brown, producer Stephen Rice and sound operator are being held
  • They were filming a story about the recovery of two Australian children
  • The children's father, Ali el-Amien, slammed the alleged kidnapping, said it endangered the lives of Noah, 4, and Lahela, 5

Lebanese authorities reportedly have evidence that Channel Nine paid for the abduction of two children, who were snatched off the street in Beirut in a botched child recovery operation.  
The authorities say they have a signed statement from a member of the 'recovery team' who says Channel Nine paid $115,000 for the operation, reported the ABC.  
However, the evidence and signed statement is unconfirmed.   


 The children's mother, Australian woman Sally Faulkner, was arrested by Lebanese police for allegedly kidnapping her two children along with a Nine Network TV crew, who are all behind bars. 
The children's father, Ali el-Amien said he was 'disappointed' by the recovery attempt, but has reiterated he won't be pushing for charges against Ms Faulkner. 
'I told her that I'm not going to file anything. She is the mother of my children,' Mr el Amien told The Guardian.