Any Nine Network payments over the botched child recovery operation in Lebanon could face scrutiny from Australian authorities as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull labelled 60 Minutes' involvement "most unwise".
Nine reportedly paid the child recovery agency involved, as well as Sally Faulkner's estranged husband to secure the Brisbane woman and a 60 Minutes crew's release after two weeks in a Beirut prison on kidnapping charges.
Nine "appears to have been most unwise" to be involved and reports of money changing hands would likely attract the interest of authorities, Mr Turnbull said.
"I've got no doubt it will be of interest to various regulatory agencies," he told Sydney radio 2SM on Friday.
There has been talk of the corporate regulator investigating, because Nine's parent company is publicly listed.
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However, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission is unlikely to be involved as issues such as foreign bribery are matters for the Australian Federal Police.
The AFP has not yet been asked to investigate, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Operations Ian McCartney said.
"We've seen the media reporting but we haven't received a referral in relation to that matter and our understanding is the Lebanese authorities still have an active investigation," he told a Senate inquiry on foreign bribery on Friday.
A lawyer for the two child recovery team members who remain in a Beirut prison has handed the investigating judge a document purporting to show Nine paid $A69,000 to Child Abduction Recovery International.
Dated January 22, 2016, the "payment detail report" generated by ANZ bank notes the fee of $69,000 drawn from the television network's account was for "investigation into my missing child".
The document verifies claims by CARI CEO and operation leader, dual Australian-British man Adam Whittington, that he was paid directly by Nine to go to Beirut and take Ms Faulkner's children from their Lebanese father.
"This is the first instalment of two payments that were given to my client by Channel Nine," Mr Whittington's lawyer Joe Karam told AAP in Beirut on Thursday.
"Sally wanted this, proposed this, Channel Nine had the opportunity of financing this and if it was a successful plan they would have the best scoop."
The children's father Ali Elamine has denied being paid to drop his charges against the 60 Minutes crew and Ms Faulkner, who gave up her custodial rights as part of the deal.
News Corp Australia has reported Nine paid $US500,000 to Mr Elamine in the official settlement registered with the prosecuting judge, while further money was paid directly to his family.
Nine has refused to comment on any payment claims.
A spokesperson said the network was not making any further comment on the settlement nor matters that will be addressed in the review announced by its CEO.
According to Fairfax, Nine even approached Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto and his dispute mediation business partner John Khoury to be outside negotiators and use their contacts in Lebanon to help secure its team's release.
Mr Karam asked for bail for Mr Whittington and his British colleague Craig Michael but they were returned to their cells, with no date set for their next court appearance.
Mr Karam said Mr Whittington was very angry with Nine.
"He feels he has been left behind by them."
