Investigation uncovered ‘too much’ evidence
Released On 5th Mar 2024
The BBC recently revealed that once Post Office subpostmasters and subpostmistresses began legal action against their former employer, a secret investigation into the cash anomalies at branches, suddenly stopped.
The investigation, which began in 2016, looked into how and why cash accounts on the Horizon IT system were so inaccurate.
It looked through 17 years of Horizon records to find out whether one reason might be that the system could be accessed remotely.
However, according to the BBC News report, despite it reportedly finding instances in which the software was accessed remotely, the investigation was stopped as soon as this was found to be the case.
The secret investigation was uncovered through analysis of confidential Government documents, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, from a time when the Post Office was under pressure to get to the bottom of claims of injustice.
It suggests that the Government also knew about the decision to axe the probe, for which Lord Cameron has since apologised.
The result of the investigation adds to evidence that the Post Office knew that Fujitsu was able to access subpostmasters and subpostmistresses’ accounts, even though they denied this in court two years later.
Additional evidence was uncovered later when messages handed into the Post Office Horizon inquiry showed that cash bonuses were handed out to investigators for each individual who was convicted.
Roger Isaacs, Forensic Partner at Milsted Langdon, said: “the Post Office continues to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
“Meanwhile, the focus of forensic accountants and lawyers who are helping to support victims of the scandal is on helping them to get the full and fair redress that they deserve as soon as possible”
Roger added that hundreds of those prosecuted in the Post Office scandal may soon have their names cleared under new legislation that is due to come into effect by the end of July.
“These moves go some way to helping those falsely accused, with further compensation also likely to become available to those who used the earlier Post Office system, Capture, as well,” added Roger.
Sources: BBC News
