Twenty years ago, Angelina Jolie faced numerous legal hurdles in her quest to adopt little Maddox. It all began when she filmed the movie Tomb Raider in Cambodia in 2000 and developed a deep affinity for the country. Jolie visited an orphanage during her stay and was immediately drawn to Maddox, whom she later adopted. With the help of her partner, Sarath Mounh, Jolie was able to navigate the adoption process with ease. Mounh has since shared that Maddox is a bright and cheerful child who won Jolie’s heart with his infectious smile and positive attitude. When Jolie first met Maddox, he stood up and smiled at her instead of crying like other children, leaving a lasting impression on the actress and prompting her to choose him as her son.
When Angelina Jolie visited a group of newborns, a smiling Maddox stood out from the crying babies. However, the adoption process was not without its challenges due to rampant cross-border child trafficking in Cambodia at the time. To ensure she did everything correctly, Angelina’s friend and colleague, Mr. Sarath Mounh, stepped in and legally adopted Maddox before transferring custody to Angelina through a signed document.
Sarath Mounh has expressed his desire to be Maddox’s adoptive father, enabling Angelina to legally take her son to America. The adoption of the Cambodian orphan boy by Angelina changed his life and provided him with the opportunity to move to America. Maddox’s adoption by a global celebrity brought great excitement and joy to the people of Cambodia, who hope that he will always remember his roots and go on to achieve great success in life.
Sarath, who is pictured on the far right, came to Angelina’s rescue by helping her overcome the distress caused by the inability to finalize the adoption documents.
Exclusive photos were captured on the occasion when Angelina Jolie traveled to Cambodia to retrieve her child.
Frequent visits to his homeland have enabled Maddox to learn about the positive customs and practices of Cambodia.
At present, the cheerful young lad has enrolled himself in a top-notch university situated in Korea.
