The recovery agent behind the 60 Minutes-linked child snatch operation previously received a "donation" to his personal charity from an Australian media organisation that profiled his activities.

The transaction involving the media outlet reveals how the agent could potentially access money provided by the media without it being seen as a direct payment.

So far, no one has admitted to paying for last week's failed attempt to recover the children in Lebanon that led to the arrest of the agent, Adam Whittington, several of his associates, a 60 Minutes crew including high profile reporter Tara Brown, and Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner.

However, allegations have been reported by Australia's ABC news that Mr Whittington's agency Child Abduction Recovery International (CARI) was to receive $115,000 from 60 Minutes in association with the operation.

60 Minutes has repeatedly refused to comment, partly on the grounds it does not want to interfere with the judicial process and exacerbate the situation for its four-person crew who remain in detention in Beirut over the incident. But it is understood that 60 Minutes denies any impropriety.

Ms Faulkner's family has also refused to comment on who paid, but it is understood they may have an exclusivity agreement with Channel Nine that prevents Ms Faulkner or her relatives from speaking to other media outlets.

Fairfax Media has found that, if money exchanged hands, it would not be the first time that an entity linked to Mr Whittington has received funds from a media organisation reporting on his operations.

Late last year, New Idea magazine - part of the stable of publications in Pacific Magazines which is owned by Seven West Media - was involved in publishing a two-page spread about Mr Whittington, headlined "I'm Saving Abducted Kids".

The article featured a note at its conclusion stating that New Idea had paid $1500 to Mr Whittington's charity Project Rescue Children.

New Idea is part of the Pacific Magazine publishing arm of Seven West.

Seven West's Today Tonight current affairs program has also featured a program on Mr Whittington's operations.

Asked why New Idea had paid the charity, a spokeswoman for Pacific Magazines did not provide a response.

However, she did say that New Idea did not provide any funding or support to Mr Whittington for child recovery.

She said the article was a "general news article about child recovery work, which featured some examples of child recoveries which Adam had previously undertaken".

Project Rescue Children is listed as a United Kingdom-based entity set up by Mr Whittington in August.

It has a sophisticated website that says it is a "non-profit organisation" that is "dedicated to rescuing children from human trafficking and sexual exploitation".

A copy of the Project Children Rescue articles of association reveal that "a director is entitled to be reimbursed from the property of the charity or may pay out of such property reasonable expenses properly incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the charity".

Mr Whittington is listed as the only director of the entity.

The website features a number of ways to donate money, including providing credit card details.

It also states: "We are not a government organisation and do not receive government funding. We rely 100% on donations to make our rescues happen and save children. And we do it because no child should be a sex slave."

A search on the domain name reveals Mr Whittington is listed as the sole tech contact for the website with the same number that is used as an emergency contact for his recovery agency. That number does not appear to be functioning.

Efforts to contact the charity have been unsuccessful.

A spokeswoman for Channel Nine had no comment for this story.

Mr Whittington and the 60 Minutes crew remain detained in Beirut facing kidnapping charges over the bungled attempt to snatch children Lahala, 6, and Noah, 4, form the side of a road in Beirut last week.