Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1458198
NEWS 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 MARCH 2022 Girl in foster care 'abducted' by her mother in 2020, returns to Malta LUKE VELLA ARSEMA, the child that had been abducted by her mother from foster care has been re- turned safely to Malta on Tues- day. Addressing the media on Tuesday, Childrens' Rights Minister Michael Falzon broke the news that Arsema, the child in foster care that had been abducted by her mother, has returned safely to Malta on 8 March. He explained that Arsema had been living in foster care for more than six years, as per an agreement with the mother in 2014. The mother and the ministry had agreed that the father was not a suitable carer for Arsema, and the child saw her mother once a week and her father on certain occasions. In 2020, the Maltese court recommended increasing the amount of time Arsema spent with her mother as long as it was in Arsema's best interest. In October 2020, Arsema saw her mother for an entire week- end and on 11 October, Arse- ma was flown out of the coun- try by her mother. The child had been picked up for the weekend at her foster home on 9 October 2020, by the mother who indicated she would return two days later, as per the usual routine. Arsema did not return on 11 October and the foster carer did not manage to get through to the mother. On 12 October 2020, the fos- ter carer informed Arsema's social worker of the case and the child was reported missing to the police. The foster carer eventually managed to con- tact the mother's workplace and was informed that Arse- ma's mother had resigned to go abroad. In court, Arsema's mother did not agree with this version of events. The court established that Arsema flew to Paris with her mother on 11 October 2020, using another child's passport, through flights booked two days earlier. The passport had been fraudently acquired by the mother at the airport. Once in Paris, they were joined by the mother's boy- friend, who left Malta on 7 Oc- tober 2020. The three of them travelled to the 'Jungle' outside Calais, where they stayed until 8 November, 2020. The 'Jungle' is an unofficial camp near Calais where those who want to get to the UK try to cross the English Channel. The ministry said Arsema, her mother and her mother's boyfriend crossed the English Channel under "dangerous cir- cumstances" in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat on the night of 8 November 2020. According to reports, the boat capsized dur- ing the crossing and they were rescued by British authorities. When they arrived on 9 No- vember, 2020, Arsema's moth- er and her boyfriend were initially detained by the UK Border Force but were later released and they eventually settled in an area of the United Kingdom where Arsema went to school. On 3 February 2021, the Min- istry commenced proceedings in the English High Court, seeking the return of Arsema under the 1980 Hague Con- vention on Child Abduction. The High Court ordered that Arsema be "picked up" by Eng- lish police and placed in the foster care of a local authority in London. However, Arsema's whereabouts could not be lo- cated. On 8 February 2021, the Mal- tese Civil Court declared that Arsema had been removed from Malta without the con- sent of the authorities and or- dered Arsema's return to Malta as soon as she was located. On 2 November 2021, Arse- ma's school made a referral to the local authority on the basis of things Arsema said to them about her mother. On 11 November 2021, the ministry was notified that Ar- sema and her mother had been located. On 19 November 19 2021, Arsema was collected by the English police for the sec- ond time and placed in foster care in the United Kingdom. Arsema settled well into the foster home and eventually be- gan seeing her mother once a week, which was strictly super- vised. Following the ministry's ap- plication proceeding in the High Court, a children's guard- ian was appointed to ascertain Arsema's wishes and feelings and to represent her interests but Arsema's mother objected to return the child. Arsema's father, although participating in only part of the legal pro- ceedings, did not object to Ar- sema's return. The court held that Arse- ma's removal from Malta was planned and calculated and that she was exposed to life-threat- ening danger during the jour- ney to the United Kingdom by her mother and her mother's boyfriend as they attempted to cross the English Channel. The court considered that none of the mother's reasons to object to Arsema's return were suffi- cient and ordered Arsema's re- turn to Malta. The child was accompanied on her return to Malta by her Maltese social worker, whom she knew well. Falzon said the ministry worked closely with the local authorities, drawing up a plan for the child's return to Malta. The minister said Arsema's mother is free to return to Mal- ta, and declared it would "care- fully" consider how to support and monitor the contact be- tween the child and her natural parents. THE Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association has slammed Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli's comments on Na- tionalist candidate Julie Zahra's Eurovi- sion past. "The MEIA expresses its full solidarity with artists, and condemns derogato- ry comments which try to ridicule the profession and artists," it said in a Face- book post. The two candidates were interviewed on TVM's XTRA on Monday evening. Zahra and Farrugia Portelli were de- bating the party's proposals, with Zahra claiming the Labour Party had not de- livered on a number of proposals. The PN candidate then went on to claim that despite its statements on how prepared the PL was, it had noth- ing to show for it. "They haven't even published the manifesto." "This is an absolute lie," Farrugia Portelli rebutted. The two went on to say they have been contacted by the opposing party's sup- porters, who they said told them they would be voting for their party. "You know how many Nationalists told me they will voting for the Labour Party. This is not some stage we are singing on here, we are speaking about the facts," Farrugia Portelli told the PN candidate. Zahra rebutted by telling Minister Farrugia Portelli she should not be rid- iculing artists. "Don't try to ridicule artists. Why are you bringing up my past? Did I tell you anything about your time as a journal- ist?" she said. The MEIA said the country needs more artists who speak about the in- dustry, and less politicians who speak disrespectfully about the arts. "Ironically, during pandemic times, it's easier to be a politician on a stage, then an artist carrying out your work," it said. "It is clear there is still more to be done for the arts to be considered a profession in society." Earlier, Farrugia Portelli said the PN suffers from a lack of credibility. "On the other hand, you know that when the PL promises you something, it sticks to that promise. With us you know where you stand." Zahra said the Labour government "did nothing on certain areas". "What did Labour do on wellbeing, on mental health, on education?" she said. On voter abstention, Zahra said peo- ple should decide whether they want greylisting, corruption, and environ- mental degradation to continue. "Peo- ple need to know that they would not be voting for themselves only, but for the sake of the country." Farrugia Portelli on the other hand said the PL is not "spiteful". "It is a party which wants to continue being close to people, and help them overcome their challenges." Performers don't take kindly to minister's swipe at Julie Zahra's Eurovision past Julie Zahra (left) and Julia Farrugia clashed on Xtra