Adoption official visits Madonna

LONDON, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- An adoption official from Malawi was seen leaving the London home of singer Madonna, the BBC reported Friday.

Although he refused to answer questions, Simon Chisale was reportedly evaluating whether Madonna and her filmmaker husband, Guy Ritchie, should be allowed to adopt toddler David Banda from the African country.

Madonna and Ritchie were granted an 18-month interim custody order for the 2-year-old boy last October.

Chisale is expected to file a report on their suitability as adoptive parents soon, the BBC said.

His visit comes after another Malawian official, Penstone Kilembe, was removed from the case for allegedly accepting money from the singer. Earlier this week, a top civil servant in the ministry responsible for child welfare, claimed Madonna had been financially supporting another member of the ministry’s staff who is studying in Britain.

Madonna has been accused of using her fame and money to skirt Malawian laws during the adoption process.

But her representative told the BBC there had been "absolutely no interference" with government officials and "no use of Madonna's 'celebrity'" to cut through red tape.