Kidnapping charges have been filed against journalist Tara Brown and her 60 Minutes crew over botched child recovery mission in Lebanon.
Channel Nine – which airs 60 Minutes – reported four charges, including charges linked to kidnapping and assault, are expected to be brought against Brown and three other members of the 60 Minutes team.
The group appeared individually in a Beirut court on Tuesday and if found guilty, they could face up to 20 years in jail. However there is still hope of that being downgraded.
The crew had gone to Lebanon to document the story of Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner, who it is alleged was attempting to retrieve her children from their father in Beirut with the help of a British-based firm Child Abduction Recovery International.
A spokeswoman for Channel Nine said the network was cooperating fully with the Lebanese authorities.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT), Australia has “friendly bilateral relations with Lebanon.”
The ABC reports that Ms Faulkner’s charges could possibly be downgraded to three months in prison as her efforts to get her children back weren’t for ransom – instead it was a mother simply trying to be be back together with her children.
Sally claims her estranged husband took their two children to Lebanon and refused to return them.
On Tuesday, Tara was led into court wearing handcuffs. Inside, she spoke to a judge and Ali Elamine, the father of the children, for around an hour.
As she left court, News Corp asked the reporter how she was doing. “It’s fine thank you,” she replied.
Last year, The Australian Women’s Weekly sat down with the influential reporter to talk about the risks of her work.
The mum-of-two has travelled to the Syrian frontline twice in the past six months to report on female freedom fighters and admits those assignments take on a different complexion when there are two kids waiting at home.
“I don’t ever think I’m gung-ho about it,” Tara said at the time. “You stop yourself thinking about the worst consequences because then you wouldn’t do anything.”
In the interview with The Weekly‘s Susan Horsburgh, Tara spoke at length about her job’s emotional toll, her kids’ guilt trips and the father she hasn’t spoken to for almost 40 years.
You can read the full interview here. This story originally appeared on The Australian Women’s Weekly.
Kidnapping charges have been filed against journalist Tara Brown and her 60 Minutes crew over botched child recovery mission in Lebanon.
