Entertainment News
2007-09-07
Malawian
official visits Madonna
Malawi's
chief social welfare official has paid a visit to
Madonna's London home, part of a long-delayed assessment
Malawi's
chief social welfare official has paid a visit to
Madonna's London home, part of a long-delayed assessment
into whether the pop idol can adopt a little boy from
the African country.
Simon Chisale was
spotted leaving the singer's home Wednesday afternoon
and clutching a blue binder, but he refused to comment and
attempted to hide his face when approached by the
Associated Press.
Madonna's New
York–based spokeswoman did not immediately reply to
an e-mail requesting comment.
Chisale is filing
a report on the suitability of Madonna and
filmmaker-husband Guy Ritchie as adoptive parents for
toddler David Banda, who was plucked from a Malawian
orphanage during a visit there by Madonna last autumn.
In October,
Madonna and Ritchie were granted temporary custody of David,
then 13 months old, but that could be revoked if it's found
that David is being treated differently from their
other children or if the toddler's rights are being
violated in any way.
The assessment
originally was due to have been made by Penston Kilembe,
the director of Malawi's child welfare services. However, he
was removed from the case following allegations that
he had solicited money from the singer for his trip to
London.
On Monday, Adrina
Mchiela, a top civil servant in the ministry
responsible for child welfare, said Madonna was paying
tuition and living expenses for a ministry staffer
studying in Great Britain, and had offered to sponsor
others.
The allegations
renewed the concern that the singer had used her wealth
and celebrity status to manipulate the adoption process.
Kilembe has
denied any wrongdoing, and in a statement earlier this week
Madonna said there had been no interference with government
officials. (AP)
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