Sliema mayor Nikki Dimech has claimed he is innocent and says he only admitted bribery charges to the police because he was forced to.

In an interview with The Sunday Times to be published tomorrow, Mr Dimech says he underwent “mental torture” at the hands of the police and that he was interrogated twice: once where he denied the accusations and another (three hours later) where he admitted.

He said he was kept in a cell at police headquarters between interrogations where he suffered a panic attack but he was not given his asthma inhaler and antidepressants except after he signed the second statement.

He also talks about general secretary Paul Borg Olivier, his relationship with former protégé Robert Arrigo and why he thinks he has been framed by his party.

Mr Dimech was kicked out of the party last week after the news surfaced that he admitted to police having asked for a commission from a contractor.

However, he did not resign as mayor and the party prepared a motion of no confidence. One of the PN’s councillors, Sandra Camilleri, said she was forced to sign the motion by Dr Borg Olivier, even though she believed Mr Dimech was innocent.

In a reaction which will also be published tomorrow, the PN, among other things, denied Ms Camilleri's allegations.

Meanwhile the police have denied allegations that Mr Dimech signed the statement under duress and was not given his inhaler, saying that he never asked to use it.