Fujitsu ‘morally obliged’ to contribute to subpostmaster monetary redress amid ‘insane’ delays

Fujitsu has apologised for its function on the Put up Workplace scandal and stated it’s ‘morally obliged’ to contribute to the monetary redress of victims

Karl Flinders,
Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Printed: 16 Jan 2024 16:15

Fujitsu is “morally obligated” to contribute to the prices associated to the Put up Workplace Horizon scandal confronted by UK taxpayers, stated Fujitsu’s UK boss Paul Patterson, throughout a Parliamentary choose committee listening to.

He additionally admitted that the IT firm helped Put up Workplace wrongly prosecute subpostmasters.

The Enterprise and Commerce Committee had earlier heard from scandal victims in regards to the sluggish progress receiving monetary redress for the devastation precipitated to them by the Put up Workplace.

The Post Office scandal noticed the Put up Workplace blame hundreds of subpostmasters for accounting shortfalls that have been really attributable to the Put up Workplace’s retail and accounting system, often known as Horizon.

The losses didn’t exist in the actual world, simply on the pc system, however subpostmasters have been compelled to pay cash to the Put up Workplace to cowl the phantom losses. Moreover, though the Put up Workplace knew the system lacked integrity, subpostmasters have been prosecuted for crimes of dishonesty primarily based on its knowledge.

For the primary time, a senior Fujitsu govt confronted questions in regards to the Japanese IT provider’s function within the Put up Workplace Horizon scandal.

Patterson appeared alongside Put up Workplace CEO Nick Learn on the listening to, and each used the passage of time and the continued public inquiry into the scandal as excuses for not answering questions.

The listening to started with authorized representatives of former subpostmaster outlining how crimson tape was slowing down progress in paying victims of the scandals what they’re owed, many years after their struggling and 4 years since they proved it was laptop errors that precipitated accounting shortfalls and never them.

Committee chair, Labour MP Liam Byrne, described the time it was taken for monetary redress as “insane”.

When requested whether or not Fujitsu would contribute to the scandal invoice, anticipated to price as much as £1bn, Patterson stated Fujitsu is “morally obligated” to contribute to the prices, however stated the extent can be decided by the end result of the Horizon scandal public inquiry, chaired by retired decide Wyn Williams.

Williams’ title was frequently spoken as the 2 executives prevented answering troublesome questions.

Patterson did admit to Fujitsu’s half within the scandal, telling MPs and victims: “We have been concerned from the beginning; we did have bugs and errors within the system, and we did assist the Put up Workplace of their prosecutions of subpostmasters. For that, we’re really sorry.”

Requested why no person raised issues throughout the Put up Workplace, when the variety of prosecutions rose dramatically after Horizon’s introduction, Put up Workplace CEO Nick Learn stated he didn’t know why no person raised issues, however stated that the “lack of curiosity about what was happening stays a thriller”.

Earlier within the listening to, former subpostmasters Alan Bates, who led the combat in opposition to the Put up Workplace, and Jo Hamilton, a key determine in bringing the reality out about Horizon, spoke in regards to the sluggish tempo of the monetary redress course of, which is mired in crimson tape.

Hamilton stated: “My mum and pop didn’t get to reside to see my conviction overturned, however on the very minimal, there ought to be some frequent sense [to the financial redress schemes].” She referred to as for crimson tape to be lower out.

Conservative peer, James Arbuthnot, who was beforehand Hamilton’s MP, stated: “I hope [financial redress] can be accomplished in a matter of weeks – some is perhaps months, however can’t be allowed to maneuver to subsequent yr.”

Reflecting on the place the campaigners have gotten to and the time it has taken, Bates stated: “We at all times knew we have been proper in regards to the Put up Workplace, nevertheless it tried to manage the narrative.”

The Put up Workplace stated that 31 new potential victims have come ahead because the airing of the ITV drama Mr Bates versus The Put up Workplace. Neil Hudgell, solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors, stated the corporate has been approached by round 200 individuals who consider they’ve suffered because of Horizon issues.

Laptop Weekly first exposed the scandal in 2009, with the tales of seven subpostmasters and the issues they suffered because of the Horizon system (see timeline below.)

Additionally watch: ITV’s Post Office scandal documentary: The real story.

Additionally learn: What you need to know about the Horizon scandal.