The father at the centre of 60 Minutes’ botched child recovery Ali Elamine has taken to Facebook to share the first photo of himself with his children since their mother was forced to return to Australia.
The shot shows Mr Elamine with his two children, daughter Lahela, 5, and son Noah, 3 out in public – eating at what appears to be a shopping mall – smiling for the selfie.
Mr Elamine’s estranged wife Sally Faulkner spent two weeks in a Beirut prison alongside Channel 9 journalist Tara Brown following a foiled snatch and grab of the children by professional child recovery specialists in Lebanon.
Ms Faulkner was forced to relinquish her custody over the two children in a deal that saw her able to leave prison without further charges and get back to her four-month-old baby from her current relationship.
In the days after the release Mr Elamine, who lists on Facebook that he is from Huntington Beach, California, was asked on radio if he would ever take the children to Australia to see their mum. The surf shop owner said: “Maybe down the track, when things cool off, we talk a bit more, maybe, why not?
“I mean I wouldn’t mind going surfing there.”
According to the Daily Telegraph Ms Faulkner also uploaded a picture of her daughter this week and when asked by a commenter if she saw the kids while in Lebanon she replied: “Yes I did. It was bittersweet. I have many photos of them with me. I’ll put them up soon”.
