This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

Lawyers Looking For 'Solution' To 60 Minutes Abduction Case: Bishop

60 Minutes Case: Lawyers In Negotiations After Hearing Postponed
Nine Network

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said lawyers for the mother and father of children at the centre of the 60 Minutes abduction scandal are currently trying to broker a solution after a court case on the matter was adjourned.

Bishop confirmed that lawyers were trying to reach a compromise after the botched child recovery operation that has left the 60 Minutes crew and Brisbane mum Sally Faulkner detained in Lebanon for almost two weeks.

Bishop's comments came after the court hearing in Lebanon on the bungled extraction was adjourned until Wednesday.

"The investigating judge has adjourned the matter for a couple of days to enable the parties and their lawyers to try to negotiate some solution and that would obviously be the best outcome in the interests of the children and interests of the parents," Bishop told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

"We want to see all Australians detained brought home to Australia as soon as possible."

The 60 Minutes crew -- including reporter Tara Brown -- and Faulkner fronted the Lebanese Court on Monday night (AEST), after Faulkner's estranged husband said he would not be dropping charges.

Ali Elamine told reporters outside the Baabda court that 60 Minutes "dropped the ball" and he would continue to "charge everyone involved".

“The way they are trying to push for this is that if Sally goes out on bail, they all get out,” Elamine said, according to The Herald Sun.

“They are pushing for Sal’s release and everyone else gets a green card. They dropped the ball by getting involved in family matters [and now] everyone is blaming the other for what happened.”

The latest developments follow pictures published overnight of Brown being bundled into a car outside court.

Earlier, Judge Rami Abdullah emphasised to media the seriousness of the situation, NewsCorp Australia reported.

“This is not a custody case,” Judge Abdullah reportedly said. “They are charged with kidnapping two kids.”

Brown and the 60 Minutes crew have been held in Lebanese cells after their involvement in the attempted child recovery operation.

They were in Beirut to film the operation involving Brisbane mother Faulkner, whose ex-husband took her two children to Lebanon on a holiday and never returned them to Australia.

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.