Official suspended over Madonna adoption

LONDON, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- An African official overseeing Madonna’s adoption of a Malawi boy was suspended for allegedly asking the singer for money, it was reported Tuesday.

Penstone Kilembe, director of Malawi's child welfare services, was expected to arrive in London Tuesday to determine whether Madonna and her filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie should be allowed to adopt David Banda.

The couple was granted temporary custody of the toddler last October.

However the Malawi government has removed Kilembe from the case after he was accused of soliciting money to pay for the trip during which he was supposed to inspect the star's home, Britain's Daily Mail reported.

Simon Chisale, the country's chief social welfare officer, is now expected to take over the case.

Madonna's lawyer in Malawi said he was cooperating with Chisale, who will consult British social services and child psychologists before filing his report.

Kilembe, who returned to Malawi late Monday night after attending a conference in the United States, told the Daily Mail he had not heard of the decision and denied any wrongdoing.

Madonna's spokeswoman was unavailable for comment.