The company behind the failed child recovery attempt involving 60 Minutes in Beirut has blamed a competitor for tipping off authorities.
Child Abduction Recovery International (CARI) CEO Adam Whittington and colleague Craig Michaels remain in a Beirut jail, although Brisbane mum Sally Faulkner and the 60 Minutes crew have been released.
The company on Thursday blamed a rival organisation for undermining the operation.
"It has come to our attention that one of our competitors has actively undermined this operation, by passing on confidential information," it said in a statement on Facebook.
"These malevolent actions have resulted in the detention of those involved.
"All parties are aware of this individual's self-serving actions, which are nothing short of despicable and were designed purely to bring down one of the only trustworthy, honest and reliable organisations operating in this difficult area."
Mr Whittington's wife has also defended the dual Australian-British man.
"Competitor firms have used this tragedy as a giant PR exercise for their own shameless self promotion," she wrote.
Mrs Whittington said her husband was a good-hearted family man who was trying to help a desperate mother.
"If the outcome is that Adam has committed a crime he will accept that and respect the Lebanese legal system and their right to punish him," she said, adding she hoped any punishment was as lenient as possible.
Mr Whittington served in both the Australian army and in the British police before establishing CARI in 2000, the company said.
Ms Faulkner, whose two children were at the centre of the operation, and the four members of the 60 Minutes crew were released on bail after her estranged husband Ali Elamine dropped his abduction charges. They still face the prospect of criminal charges.
They had spent 14 days in a Beirut jail along with Mr Whittington, Mr Michaels and two Lebanese associates.
CARI denied allegations it has used fake cases on its website, saying all its cases were genuine.
It said child recovery is a risky business and it always undertakes extensive planning before any attempted recovery to ensure its client has the legal right to recover the child and that all other avenues have been explored.
