Australian mother Sally Faulkner and a crew from Channel Nine have been questioned by a Lebanese judge who could downgrade child abduction charges against them.

Key points: Estranged husband claims he does not want to press charges against Sally Faulkner

Estranged husband claims he does not want to press charges against Sally Faulkner Ms Faulkner questioned for 20 minutes without interpreter

Ms Faulkner questioned for 20 minutes without interpreter Questions over who pushed children's grandmother during abduction attempt

Four members of the Channel Nine crew — presenter Tara Brown, producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment — were among a group of people arrested after a botched attempt to take Ms Faulkner's children off the streets of the capital, Beirut.

It is understood the charges being brought by the prosecution include: hiding information, forming an association with two or more people to commit crime against a person, kidnapping or holding a minor, and physical assault.

Ms Faulkner emerged shaken and teary eyed after being questioned by the judge for about 20 minutes.

Her estranged husband Ali Elamine — who took the children to Lebanon last year and refused to let them return — had already been questioned, and Ms Faulkner was questioned in front of him.

She had no lawyer and there was no accredited interpreter either.

Her answers were noted down by a clerk, but, with no proper interpreter, the judge could not ask her to sign the record of interview and the proceedings might be delayed until one is found.

But, despite appearances, she has the best chance of being freed. Mr Elamine says he does not want to press charges against her.

Her attempt to get the children back last week was not a case of kidnapping for ransom and was instead about reuniting them with their mother, so the charges could be downgraded from the more serious "deprivation of liberty" to a misdemeanour.

Ms Faulkner could be freed and a conviction could be punished by as little as three months in prison.

Sally Faulkner with Lahela and Noah. ( Facebook )

Brown looked calm and composed after a brief questioning.

Both were being led about wearing handcuffs and Brown stumbled briefly when pulled by a guard as she was being taken back to her cell.

Sorry, this video has expired CCTV footage shows moment children taken on streets of Beirut

The other members of the Channel Nine crew were also brought up briefly.

The key for them all will be to demonstrate they were not directly connected to the act of grabbing the children off the street.

The members of the team that did were also brought up for brief questioning.

The judge will want to know which of them pushed the children's grandmother to the ground during the operation — something that could make the punishment more severe.

Sorry, this video has expired Malcolm Turnbull says consular staff in Beirut providing assistance

Over the next two days the judge will question each of those detained at length.

The alleged leader of the child recovery team, Adam Wittington, is reportedly a former Australian soldier and British police officer.

It is understood he was detained on a yacht in a luxury marina when the rest of the team was intercepted.

The Australians are all being held at The Palace of Justice Detention Centre, which is understood to be overcrowded and filled with Syrian refugees.

They have not been allowed phone calls or contact with family but have been liaising through lawyers.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australian consular staff in Beirut were providing ongoing assistance.

"We respect the Lebanese legal system and their right to investigate and take proceedings if they feel offences have been committed but we support Australians who find themselves in these difficulties and these circumstances," he said.

The 60 Minutes crew detained in Lebanon: (from left) cameraman Ben Williamson, producer Stephen Rice, reporter Tara Brown and sound recordist David Ballment. ( Facebook/60 Minutes )

'Some days' before crew can defend themselves: Nine

Lebanese authorities have claimed they have uncorroborated evidence Nine paid for the failed child abduction.

Authorities said they had a signed statement from a member of the "recovery team" who said Nine paid $115,000 for the operation.

However, that statement is uncorroborated and the ABC has not seen it and cannot confirm the claim.

Lebanese authorities have also claimed to be in possession of footage of the botched kidnapping, which shows the face of a Channel Nine cameraman.

The ABC has not seen the footage and authorities could not say if his image was recorded during the operation or beforehand.

The children were returned to their father after the incident.