Walesi office at FNPF plaza. [File Photo]

The previous government has spent around $125 million on the establishment and rollout of the satellite digital television platform, Walesi, since 2015.

During his ministerial statement Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica says $42.5 million of this came from the Telecommunications Development Trust Fund.

Kamikamica says the other $82.5 million came through budget returns.

The Minister says this disclosure is important because it shows a deeper concern on how the money was spent.

“This suggests that FijiFirst government did not disclose to the people of Fiji how much it was spending on Walesi out of the trust account and it can be deemed as misleading to the people of Fiji.”

He adds that in the 2016-2017 financial year, there was $23.7 million spent from the trust account, but in the budget for that year, there is only a disclosure of $2 million.

Kamikamica says, with Cabinet approval, an investigation is being undertaken into the exercise of excessive use of funds.

He adds it will establish how the funds were spent and whether due process was followed or not.

While responding to the statement Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate has called on the Minister to provide evidence for the claims.