Health Minister Chris Fearne said Thursday he had accepted the “suspension” of the Foundation for Medical Services CEO and urged the police to investigate the allegations made against her.

Carmen Ciantar tendered her “suspension” from the post of CEO at the Foundation for Medical Services on Wednesday after a Pakistani news portal report claiming that she had received a bribe.

Ciantar herself has also written to the police commissioner Thursday to investigate the "unfounded" report "simply because I have nothing to hide".

The Health Ministry on Wednesday published correspondence from Ciantar saying she was taking the decision in the interests of the ministry but should in no way mean that this is “an admission of guilt”.

In a statement on Thursday, the Health Ministry said that this was the first time that Minister Fearne became aware of such allegations.

In spite of the alleged happenings occurring before Ciantar was appointed as FMS CEO, and in spite of her denial, Fearne thought it fit to immediately accept her immediate suspension, the statement said.

He appealed to the police and authorities concerned to investigate the issue.

In her letter to the police chief, seen by The Malta Independent, Ciantar says she will be giving her "total and unconditional" cooperation for the truth to emerge.

She urged the police to investigate the matter in the shortest time possible, saying that she had suspended herself from the public position she occupied to be able to defend herself more "freely, correctly and truthfully".

Daily Pakistan reported on Wednesday that Ciantar received several payments totalling €443,500 from Gozo International Medicare Ltd between October 2015 and February 2016.

The news portal claimed that the information came from leaked banking documents, which indicated there were at least 15 invoices submitted to Gozo International Medicare by Ciantar.