EXCLUSIVE

Beirut: Sally Faulkner is having an emotional reunion with her children after facing her estranged husband in a court hearing over a botched attempt to abduct her children.

Sally Faulkner in a mini van shortly after she was released. Photo: Hussein Malla

A broken looking Ms Faulkner emerged from the short hearing with her husband Ali Elamine before the judge investigating the failed abduction, for which she was jailed for a fortnight.  When Fairfax Media asked Mr Elamine on Wednesday if he would let Ms Faulkner see their children that day he said "yeah, yeah, of course." 

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But Ms Faulkner said outside court that didn't happen.

"I just love my children, I just want to see my kids," Ms Faulkner told Fairfax Media at Baabda's Palace of Justice. 

Sally Faulkner with Lahela 6, and Noah 4. Photo: Supplied

Not long after, it is understood she was given the chance to see her children.

Outside court, Ms Faulkner had refused to comment on the case and whether or not she regretted engaging Adam Whittington to abduct her two children from their father's care in Lebanon.  

Ms Faulkner said she was not planning to return home to Australia immediately where she has a three-month old baby with her new partner.  She was escorted into a car by an Australia consular official. Earlier, Mr Elamine had suggested the family would reunite for lunch.

Ms Faulkner and Mr Elamine in happier times. Photo: photos@smh.com.au

In announcing the Nine crew were free to leave Lebanon on Wednesday afternoon local-time, Judge Rami Abdullah told the media that Mr Elamine and Ms Faulkner were to appear before him with their children on Thursday morning local-time. 

There was no sign of the children, Lahala and Noah, at the court house, possibly because of the media interest the child-snatching case has attracted. 

As part of his conditions in agreeing to drop personal charges against Ms Faulkner and the Nine crew, Mr Elamine said he wanted a divorce and for Ms Faulkner to relinquish her custodial rights granted by the Australian courts.

Family split: Sally Faulker and her children. Photo: Supplied

Ms Faulkner, who was handcuffed during those negotiations, agreed.

Mr Elamine said the situation was "intense".

"I told her this is all over and the custody of the children,  you have to drop the custody charges and all that," he said.

"She was a bit upset, you can't separate children, they need to stay in one unit and at the moment, where she's at I don't think that's the right place for them to be" he said. 

When asked why not, Mr Elamine at first said Ms Faulkner had "moved on" by giving birth to a baby with her new partner three months ago but then he insisted "obviously that's not the issue."

Mr Elamine has confessed that he told his children the time difference between Beirut and Australia  was the reason why they no longer spoke to their mother. 

He has said he will consider allowing the children to travel to Australia but not for some time and complained the Australian court system and media favour the mother and not him. Earlier in the week he ruled out the prospect entirely. 

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