Noel and Esperanza Micallef filed the writ yesterday after they paid the fee to adopt a child from Pakistan but were left devastated and out of pocket by Lm5,500.

The couple said Mrs Charles tricked them out of the money and they requested the court to order her to refund them with added interest. The two parties had signed a contract whereby Mrs Charles was to provide them with a Pakistani orphan to adopt. The child was to be in good health.

On Tuesday, Mrs Charles was ordered to refund Lm5,500 to another couple, Noel and Emanuela Decesare, for a similar case. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Noel Cuschieri, noted that the couple had always turned up for court hearings and made their submissions to the case. Mrs Charles, however, had not turned up at court on various occasions.

The court ruled in favour of the couple after they supported their claims by documentary evidence. Mr Justice Cuschieri ordered Mrs Charles to refund the Decesares Lm5,500.