An Agenzija Appogg representative said today that there had been no reason for the agency not to trust German social workers, and the agency never had any indication that they would take the children abroad.

Three children who were placed under the temporary care order of Appogg earlier this month were secretly flown out of Malta by German social workers who said they taking them to the beach. 

At around nine on that morning, a Maltese Appogg care worker handed over the children to the German social workers. Usually, the foreign social workers would supervise the children until around 5pm; however no specific agreement was made on the time they would return. They merely told the agency they were taking the children to the beach. Subsequently, the social workers, along with the children boarded the flight around 1.30pm – without Appogg’s knowledge - and arrived in Germany at around 4pm. 

Testifying in court before Magistrate Joanne Vella Cuschieri today, Joseph Antoncic said that it was the same German social worker who took them who contacted Agenzija Appogg to tell them they flew to Germany, saying that they decided to do so because the process from Malta was taken too long. Initially the plan was for the children to be eventually returned back and put into foster care. Agenzija Appogg reported to situation to the police immediately.

He added that the children got on very well with the German social workers, given they could communicate with them more easily, adding that the agency asked both of them to extend their stay, which they did.

The possibility for Agenzija Appogg to file an application for the children to be returned to Malta was discussed, however no application was filed due to the fact that there were no sufficient grounds because the children were not removed from their habitual residence - which is in Germany, not Malta.

The case dates back to 18 June when police discovered a group of German women and their children, who were allegedly reported missing by their partners in Germany. 

After the court ordered a temporary care order, the three children were placed under the care of Agenzija Appogg.

The request for a decree was filed by German mothers Sabrina Albrechtand Jutta Wiedekind, asking for their children to be returned to them. 

Earlier on this week, Magistrate Joanne Vella Cuschieri had criticised for Agenzija Appogg for allowing the children to stay with third parties without supervision.

Yesterday evening, the government announced that it appointed Judge Philip Sciberras to lead an independent inquiry on the case.

Dr Carmelo Galea appeared for one of the mothers, Sabrina Albrechtand.