Madonna adoption assessor banned from case

LONDON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The Malawian government has banned a child welfare worker from supervising Madonna’s adoption of a 2-year-old boy, the Daily Mail reported Monday.

Officials said Penstone Kilembe, director of Child Welfare Services in Malawi, was taken off the case involving the U.S. pop star and her British filmmaker husband, Guy Ritchie, because he compromised his neutrality

Kilembe had been appointed by the High Court of Malawi to review David Banda’s progress since the toddler moved in with the famous family nine months ago.

Kilembe said several scheduled visits were canceled because the Malawian government didn’t have the funds to fly him to England.

Kate Kainja, minister of women and child development, has accused Kilembe of accepting money and an airline ticket to London from Madonna without his government's approval.

Although Kainja said another assessor will be assigned to the case, Kilembe said the adoption could be in jeopardy since he is the only one officially designated by the court to oversee the adoption.

"What this means is that the whole adoption process may crumble and David is sent back to his village," he said.

A spokesman for Madonna declined to comment.