Madonna`s reacts to Malawi upset with a "Whaaaat!"

London, April 04: Madonna is known to get what she wants. And as expected the unfavourable ruling came as a shock to the `Queen of Pop`, who reportedly reacted with a loud "Whaaaat!" when she first learnt that her plea to adopt four-year-old Mercy James has been turned down by a Malawian court."She kept burying her face in her hands. She was really in shock," a source close to the star was quoted as saying by a newspaper.

The ruling came contrary to general expectations as the country`s Child Welfare Minister Patricia Kaliati had earlier endorsed the star`s adoption bid. But Madonna did not waste any time before filing a Notice of Appeal to the Supreme Court. A hearing is expected to take place next week. Meanwhile, the superstar reportedly coped with the disappointment by hitting the treadmill that she`d had flown in specially to Malawi. The 50-year-old later appeared composed and relaxed while touring a village near Lilongwe where she is hoping to build a school. She however, declined to speak to reporters. But despite the composed exterior, judge Esmie Chombo`s ruling has come as a huge setback for the star. The dramatic ruling given by Chombo was contrary to the expectation of Madonna, who was so sure of a favourable judgement that she reportedly threw a lavish pre-adoption party. The `Material Girl`, who was not in court to hear the disappointing judgement was informed by her lawyer, Alan Chinula, who left the court through a back door to avoid the media which has been trailing the star since she landed in the African country last Sunday. The judge turned down the star`s plea saying that it could lead to "trafficking" of impoverished Malawian children. "Ms Madonna may not be the only international person interested in adopting the so-called poor children of Malawi. "By removing the very safeguard that is supposed to protect our children, the courts by their pronouncements could actually facilitate trafficking of children. "Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children the law seeks to protect," Chombo said in her ruling. The judge based her decision on the "issue of residence". "The issue of residence, I find, is the key upon which the question of adoption rests, and it is the very bedrock of protection that our children need; it must, therefore, not be tampered with," said Chombo, noting that Madonna had jetted in just days prior to the hearing. The `Material Girl`, who was not in court to hear the disappointing judgement was informed by her lawyer, Alan Chinula, who left the court through a back door to avoid the media which has been trailing the star since she landed in the African country last Sunday. The judge turned down the star`s plea saying that it could lead to "trafficking" of impoverished Malawian children. "Ms Madonna may not be the only international person interested in adopting the so-called poor children of Malawi. "By removing the very safeguard that is supposed to protect our children, the courts by their pronouncements could actually facilitate trafficking of children. "Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children the law seeks to protect," Chombo said in her ruling. The judge based her decision on the "issue of residence". "The issue of residence, I find, is the key upon which the question of adoption rests, and it is the very bedrock of protection that our children need; it must, therefore, not be tampered with," said Chombo, noting that Madonna had jetted in just days prior to the hearing. The star, who divorced British filmmaker Guy Ritchie just months ago, already has three children including three-year-old David Banda, whom she adopted in 2006 from Malawi. Madonna`s adoption of Banda was slammed by human rights organisations as they accused the star of bending the laws of the country to get the process fast tracked. The `residency` rule, which requires the prospective parents to stay in the country for at least 18 months before adopting a child, was waved for the star when she adopted David Banda. Bureau Report