The Head of the Foundation for Medical Services has suspended herself in the wake of international media reports that she was bribed nearly half a million euros as part of the VGH deal.

“I am tendering my suspension to be in a position to defend my position. I will definitely reserve my rights at low through my legal counsel,” Carmen Ciantar said in a message to Health Minister Chris Fearne.

“I am doing this in the interest of the ministry and the government and this decision is in no shape or form any admission of guilt on my part. I will take all my legal measures at my disposal to defend my name and my integrity.”

Her suspension comes after Pakistani media house Global Village Space published an article titled: Indian-Canadian Ram Tumuluri’s company accused of corrupting Malta deputy premier’s official.

The article alleged a number of things, prime among them being that Ram Tumuluri had made several undeclared payments to Ciantar:

“A controversial Indian-Canadian businessman whose company has recently signed an Rs2,800-crore deal to supply e-buses to Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is facing fresh allegations of corruption – involving Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne’s office.”

“Leaked documents show that a company linked to Sri Ram Tumuluri, the CEO of UK-based Causis Group, made several undeclared payments to a senior Maltese official. The payments are linked to a deal in 2015 when Sri Ram Tumuluri’s firm, Vitals Global Healthcare (VGH), won a privatization tender to manage three hospitals in Malta, despite having no relevant experience. The hospitals are St. Luke’s, Karin Grech, and Gozo.”

“The controversial takeover of Malta’s state hospitals has now taken an extraordinary further twist, with leaked banked transfers showing a series of suspicious payments to the chief political advisor of Malta’s health minister Chris Fearne.”

“Carmen Ciantar received a total of €443,500 Euros from Gozo International Medicare Ltd – part of the VGH group – in less than four months.”