Judge OKs Madonna's adoption request

LILONGNE, Malawi, June 12 (UPI) -- U.S. pop star Madonna has won her bid to adopt a 4-year-old girl from Malawi, the appeals court in the southern African state has ruled.

The 50-year-old singer's request to adopt Chifundo "Mercy" James was initially denied because the mother of three children did not meet residency requirements. The judge hearing the case said granting Madonna the adoption could possibly open the door for human trafficking.

However, Madonna appealed the ruling and was told Friday her adoption petition had been granted, the BBC said.

The appeals court said the first judge hearing the case did not take into consideration the divorced recording artist's commitment to helping disadvantaged children when she made her decision, the BBC said.