A mother-of-five facing prosecution alongside alleged drug kingpin Jordan Azzopardi was remanded in custody on Friday after being re-arrested at the dock on Thursday, following allegations of attempting to bribe a witness.

The woman’s unexpected re-arrest came at the end of a charged sitting during which a former customer of the alleged druglord claimed that the woman had spoken to him last week over the phone and asked him not to testify, offering him €10,000 and a further €10,000 after the court hearing.

The witness described how he had been pestered by similar calls from a third party.

“I’m speaking out because I’ve had enough. They’ve been threatening me even up till last week,” the man insisted under oath on Thursday.

The young mother had been taken back into police custody following the claims, despite her disbelief. 

As police investigations continued, the 31-year old Madliena resident - whose name was banned under court order in separate proceedings - was escorted once again to court on Friday, pleading not guilty to the charges.

A request for bail by defence counsel Franco Debono was strongly objected to by prosecuting inspector Mark Anthony Mercieca, who pointed out that not only were the charges “immensely serious” but she had already wasted another chance at bail.

The court, presided over by magistrate Ian Farrugia, after hearing submissions by both parties, turned down the request, remanding the woman in custody.