Beirut: The lawyer for Adam Whittington, the self-styled international "child recovery" operative caught up in the 60 Minutes saga, claims bank records show the Nine Network paid directly for the botched operation and has hit out the media company's "unethical" decision to exclude those who carried out the plot from a deal that secured the television crew's freedom.

60 Minutes presenter Tara Brown, producer Stephen Rice, sound recordist David Ballment and cameraman Benjamin Williamson walked free from their Lebanese jail cells on Wednesday, along with Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner, who had to relinquish her custody rights for her two children, Noah and Lahala, as part of the agreement.

While they have gone free, Ms Faulkner's estranged husband Ali Elamine will pursue personal charges against Adam Whittington, his colleague Craig Michael and two Lebanese men who assisted with the April 6 plot.