Wife of the man who attempted to kidnap the children Wants an apology from 60 Minutes

The wife of Adam Whittington wants an apology from the Nine Network and is “disappointed” the Australian Government has not made any contact, as her husband remains in a Lebanese cell after a botched child recovery operation embroiling 60 Minutes.

Speaking to The Project on Wednesday night, Karen Whittington — who is living in Sweden with their three sons — said she has not heard from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop or anyone in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade despite her husband holding a dual citizenship in Australia and Britain.

“I have been in contact with consular from the British Embassy maybe twice. I am very disappointed in how the Australian government has dealt with all of this,” Whittington said.

While the 60 Minutes crew and Brisbane mum Sally Faulkner were released after two weeks in jail following the failed child recovery mission, Whittington and his British colleague remain imprisoned.

Faulkner’s estranged husband, Ali Elamine filed a number of charges against the group, including kidnapping, after the child recovery workers and Faulkner attempted to get her two children back. The children have been in Lebanon since April 2014, when their father refused to let them return to their mother in Australia after they went there for a holiday.

The Australian uncovered documents last week revealing the Nine Network paid Whittington through his lawyer $69, 000. However, the television network has distanced itself from the child recovery workers since the 60 Minutes crew and Faulkner were released.

“I know that Adam has told me he is not disappointed in the crew itself — the photographer or the journalist — but in the management of the team just to dismiss everything and say they have no responsibility,” Whittington told The Project.

“It is not very moral, in my eyes.”

When Waleed Aly reiterated Adam Whittington — who has been jailed previously on the job — had been the one to commit the crime, Whittington defended her husband saying “none of this would have happened if the mum didn’t order this”.

“I think [Nine] paid themselves in. They should pay themselves out,” Whittington said.

“They should have the decency at least to see how I am. The TV crew was sitting in the same cell as my husband for two weeks. Wouldn’t a phone call saying ‘he is okay, he misses you and I hope he will be okay’ — something? Some apologies? Not just: ‘We don’t have any responsibility. We haven’t paid anyone. It is not the right thing to do.’

“I think the truth will come out, though.”

HUFFINGTON POST