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Posted: 2016-04-12 19:53:11

Charges have been formally filed against the 60 Minutes team currently imprisoned in Lebanon over a failed child recovery operation.

Reporter Tara Brown and three other members of the 60 Minutes team are facing several charges relating to kidnapping, a spokeswoman for Channel Nine confirmed.

Brown, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment appeared briefly before a judge in Baabda, near Beirut, on Tuesday afternoon, local time. They are among nine people reportedly under investigation in the case: two British, two Lebanese and five Australians.

Tara Brown and the 60 Minutes crew were detained in Lebanon.

Tara Brown and the 60 Minutes crew were detained in Lebanon.

A full court hearing is expected on Wednesday, local time. Fairfax Media understands they are facing up to four charges, which include kidnapping and causing injury, charges which could result in lengthy custodial sentences if convicted.  

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It will be some days before the crew are interviewed by the judge, which will be their first chance to defend the charges, the Channel Nine spokeswoman said in a statement.

"We do not have any further details at this time and we are not able to comment on any other aspects of the matter at this time," the statement read.

Sally Faulkner with her children, Lahala and Noah.

Sally Faulkner with her children, Lahala and Noah. Photo: Facebook

ABC Middle East correspondent Matt Brown tweeted that the mother at the centre of the incident, Sally Faulkner, emerged "red-faced, teary from questioning by judge", just after 9pm (AEST).

Ms Faulkner with Lahala.

Ms Faulkner with Lahala. Photo: Facebook

Ms Faulkner, 29, a former air hostess, had travelled to Lebanon to try to recover her two children Lahala, six, and Noah, four, from their father Ali Elamine, a Beirut surf business owner.

Mr Elamine was alleged to have failed to return their children to Australia as promised after a holiday in Lebanon.

Mr Elamine told the media on Tuesday that the children are "in good health and that is what matters", and that it was rough for the children but he had calmed them down.

He stressed that "children should not have been dragged into this situation".

A spokeswoman for Channel Nine said the network was co-operating fully with the Lebanese authorities.

The attempted child recovery operation in downtown Beirut has become a diplomatic incident and a public relations disaster for Channel Nine.

The group was initially detained at Beirut's Raouche police station last Wednesday before being moved to separate male and female holding facilities.

On Monday night, Nine News correspondent Tom Steinfort said the crew had thanked Lebanese authorities for their "treatment in custody" and are in "relatively good spirits".

On Wednesday last week, local time, a car containing employees of British-based firm Child Abduction Recovery International (CARI) and Ms Faulkner had allegedly driven near a bus stop in South Beirut where Mr Elamine's mother and a nanny were walking the two young children.

Two CARI agents allegedly got out of the the car and grabbed the children from the arms of the women, while a third passenger appeared to be video recording the incident, according to grainy security camera video captured by a CCTV camera at a nearby shop.

When one of the women appeared to fight back, she was pushed away from the vehicle, which then sped off.

Inside the car, Ms Faulkner was reunited with her children and dropped off at another location.

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