A Filipino woman who gave birth in Malta to have the baby adopted by Maltese parents yesterday claimed illegal arrest after she was taken into care by social workers accompanied by police officers.

Asenit Liezel Lara, 25, filed an urgent application in court but then withdrew it after both the police and the government welfare agency Appoġġ denied she was in any way under arrest and said she was free to leave.

In fact, Ms Lara went back to live with the sister of the prospective adoptive father, with whom she had been staying ever since her arrival on March 18 and after giving birth to Kane Lara on May 19. Her visa expires on June 25.

On Wednesday, social workers, accompanied by police officers, went to the house she was living in and asked her to accompany them to a home run by Appoġġ.

The woman's lawyer, Roberto Montalto, said the arrest was made by officers on instructions by Police Inspector Louise Calleja.

However, Ms Calleja denied that the woman had ever been under arrest.

She said the decision to take her to a home was made by the Central Agency for Adoption in Malta.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli asked Ms Calleja under which law was the young woman detained and the officer replied that the director of the adoption agency was present in court and was ready to testify.

Sandra Hili Vassallo testified that Ms Lara had no financial means to support herself. The agency felt she should be taken into care because living with the prospective adoptive family would prejudice the adoption.

This was because the child was only a month old and, according to law, it was only after six weeks following birth that the adoption could take place. Also, private adoption was illegal and the mother would have to make a free and objective decision to allow her child to be adopted.

The director said the adoptive parents had started legal proceedings to adopt the child.

Dr Montalto asked whether his client could leave the court room and live wherever she wanted and Dr Hili Vassallo replied that she doubted whether Ms Lara could live wherever she wanted to, but she was free to leave the Appoġġ home.

Ms Lara told the court she did not need any protection from the adoptive agency and preferred to go back to where she was living before, with the family.

Dr Montalto then withdrew the application.