Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has directed all queries regarding Colonel Apakuki Kurusiga's Investigation team to the Permanent Secretary for Fijian Affairs Ratu Meli Bainimarama.

This follows revelations that the Native Land Trust Board (NLTB) had written to the Finance Ministry to reimburse more than $130,000 used by the Independent team appointed to investigate Fijian Institutions which was led by Colonel Kurusiga.

Chaudhry said all these queries will be best answered by Ratu Meli who could not be reached for a comment.

It has been revealed that the NLTB financed the Independent Team which was disbanded in March this year and NLTB and FAB were the only institutions investigated.

NLTB officials say the $130,000 used was taken from landowners coffers and was used to pay for the team's $100 allowance per day, hotel accommodation and transport for the 6 member team comprising of Colonel Kurusiga, Ratu Luke Yavaca, Major Timoci Tuisawau, Ponipate Lesavua and Kalaveti Batibasaga.

Fijivillage had also been reliably informed that there was some sort of agreement that the NLTB money used by the Colonel Kurusiga team would be reimbursed by the Finance Ministry, however, NLTB is still waiting for the money to be paid back and they are now concerned as nothing has been forthcoming.