A dramatic end to the day’s proceedings in the Yorgen Fenech trial saw Johann Cremona brought back to court and questioned directly over claims that he had been offered money before testifying.

The issue arose after Keith Schembri told the court that Cremona had allegedly been offered €200,000, and later €400,000, to testify in Fenech’s favour.

Prosecutors said this was a serious allegation concerning an alleged attempt to bribe a witness, and asked the court to have Cremona brought back to answer questions. Fenech’s lawyers objected, but Madam Justice Edwina Grima ruled in the prosecution’s favour and ordered court marshals to fetch Cremona immediately.

Once in court, Cremona was questioned by the judge in front of the jury. Asked whether he had been approached by lawyers Charles Mercieca and Gianluca Caruana Curran about his testimony, Cremona repeatedly refused to give a direct answer.

“I can take the blame for everything… I don’t want to hurt anyone,” he told the court.

The judge pressed him to answer, warning him that he could be arrested if he refused to reply.

Cremona also said he did not want to harm anyone and, when asked whether he had been offered money, remained silent.

He was then asked whether he had spoken to Schembri. Cremona said “maybe”, before later telling the court that Schembri had sent him a screenshot in 2020.

As Cremona struggled to answer, Schembri was warned by the judge not to look at him.

The episode led to a further clash between the parties. Defence lawyer Giannella De Marco formally objected, arguing that the court’s warning to Cremona could prejudice jurors by making it appear that the court did not believe the defence lawyers. She also argued that Cremona could be made to feel he would remain under arrest unless he said he had been offered money.

Prosecutors countered that Cremona was visibly afraid and holding back. They argued that he had not denied Schembri’s allegation, but lacked the courage to say what had happened. The prosecution also asked for Cremona to undergo a psychological assessment and be placed under suicide watch.

The court rejected both the defence objection and the prosecution’s request.

Madam Justice Grima ruled that courts have the power to order the arrest of a witness where necessary, and that doing so does not mean the court is being partial. She also stressed that only jurors can decide whether or not to believe a witness, and that anything said by the court should not influence their assessment of the evidence.

When questioning resumed, Cremona told the court he had made up the claim.

He later broke down in tears, saying he was seeing a psychiatrist and was not well.

“I want to be alone,” he told the court.

Asked who he was afraid of, Cremona replied: “Only God.”

The judge eventually dismissed him and adjourned the case until tomorrow morning.

Schembri is to remain under court surveillance while he continues testifying.