A Brisbane mother and Australian 60 Minutes TV crew will mount a legal defence after being charged by Lebanese authorities over an alleged botched child abduction in Beirut.
Ashen-faced and in handcuffs, Sally Faulkner and the four-member television crew walked into a Lebanon judge's private office on Tuesday (local time) where they were charged with numerous offences including abduction at gunpoint, threatening the lives of children and harming them.
If found guilty they could face up to 20 years in jail.
"These are all charges that will be strenuously denied by the 60 Minutes crew," said Nine's reporter covering the case Tom Steinfort.
Along with Ms Faulkner, Channel Nine TV reporter Tara Brown and colleagues Benjamin Williamson, David Ballment and Stephen Rice were among the seven charged over the recovery operation.
The two others are believed to be members of the child recovery agency hired for the kidnapping.
Mr Steinfort said each of the TV crew faced brief, five-minute questioning from the judge with reports from media on the ground that they were composed and well.
Reporter Tara Brown emerged smiling, despite being cuffed to another defendant and reportedly stumbling when led away by a guard.
Ms Faulkner was reportedly less composed and in tears following her appearance.
Her ex-husband, Ali al-Amin was brought into the judge's office and stayed there during her 20 minute questioning.
Nine has hired a legal team in Beirut to represent its crew but it's unknown whether Ms Faulkner has legal representation.
Mr Steinfort said the accused would be formally questioned by the the prosecutor in coming days, with another hearing expected soon where the team will be able to mount a defence.
"After that, the judge will decide if some of those charges may well be struck off. That is certainly what their lawyer here will be arguing very hard for."
The five Australians were arrested last week following the incident on the streets of Beirut.
The 60 Minutes crew had followed Ms Faulkner to the Middle East to film the recovery of her children from her estranged husband, who she claims kept her children in Lebanon without her permission.
CCTV footage aired in local media and on Nine appeared to show Noah (4) and Lahela (6) being snatched from their paternal grandmother by a group of masked men and bundled into a car.
Australian diplomats in Lebanon and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials in Canberra have been supporting the detained Australians.
