Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation has challenged people accusing him of taking bribes to come forward with evidence to back up their claims.
This is coming after Sirika was accused by online users of taking bribes before approving flight operations for some people.
However, the Aviation Minister vehemently refuted the claims at the Monday briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
Sirika said: “I have read also on Twitter that there are certain monies being charged for approval for flights. This is far from the truth. It’s for free. It’s just frivolous; it’s just a pen to be approved,” he said.
“Just send a text message, we will send them back as approved. So nobody should con anybody and people should stop living in the past.
“For us in this government, we are very conscious of the weight of responsibility on our heads. I’ve been minister five years now and I challenge anybody before all of these cameras.
“There’s not a single aviation business man or woman owning an aeroplane or any airline or doing any kind of business, catering, taxi, hotel, whatever it is, any business whatsoever within the aviation industry, or any permanent secretary, director or any civil servant or any public servant or whatsoever that has given me or I asked, who he offered, or I take any money and I challenge anybody today.
“There is freedom of information act in place. We will give you all of the information, all of the documents that are required.”