An investigation into a serious injustice in Britain has recommenced on Thursday, as more and more people are pushing for compensation and exoneration for over 900 Post Office branch managers who were wrongly convicted of theft or fraud due to a malfunctioning computer system.

A legal representative investigating the Post Office controversy interrogated an examiner who refuted accusations that he and his colleagues behaved like “Mafia members” during the initial investigation, which postal workers claimed left them financially ruined and emotionally shattered.

The investigation that started three years ago has now recommenced, one day after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to pass groundbreaking legislation to overturn the convictions. This comes after a television docudrama garnered widespread public support for the ex-postmasters.

Sunak stated that this was one of the most unjust events in our country’s past. He emphasized that individuals who had dedicated themselves to serving their communities had their lives and reputations ruined without any wrongdoing on their part. It is imperative that these victims receive both justice and reparation.

Besides the initial investigation, authorities are also looking into potential charges connected to the inquiry and legal proceedings.

Here are some facts to be aware of regarding the scandal:

Following the implementation of the Horizon information technology system by the Post Office in 1999, which was created by Fujitsu from Japan, sales accounting became automated. However, this resulted in local Post Office managers discovering unexpected losses for which they were held accountable.

The government-owned Post Office claimed that Horizon was dependable, while also accusing branch managers of being dishonest. Over the course of 14 years, from 2000 to 2014, approximately 900 postal workers were falsely found guilty of theft, fraud, and falsifying financial records. This resulted in some individuals being incarcerated and others being forced into bankruptcy.

Over 2,000 individuals were impacted by the scandal, with some taking their own lives or trying to do so. Others experienced the breakdown of their marriages and faced social ostracism from their communities.

In 2016, a team of postal employees filed a lawsuit against the Post Office. After three years, the High Court in London determined that Horizon had numerous flaws and problems, and that the Post Office was aware of the system’s reliability issues.

Justice Timothy Holroyde stated that the failures in the investigation and disclosure were extremely serious and would be considered offensive to the court’s conscience if any of the ‘Horizon cases’ were pursued.

According to Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake, only 95 convictions have been revoked as of now.

The moment of reckoning was a long time in the making, but it was turbocharged by a four-part television docudrama that aired Jan. 1 and fueled public outrage that led to days of bruising headlines about the Post Office and sparked a swift response by lawmakers.

The TV program “Mr. Bates vs the Post Office” shared the tale of Alan Bates, a branch manager portrayed by Toby Jones, who has dedicated almost 20 years to revealing the wrongdoing and clearing his colleagues’ names.

Over the years, there have been numerous news articles and court proceedings regarding the ongoing public inquiry. However, the show, which was viewed by millions, quickly rallied support for the victims of the injustice.

Over 1 million individuals have signed a digital petition demanding that former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells renounce her Commander of the Order of the British Empire title, which she was awarded in 2018. Vennells has announced that she will give up the honor by the end of Tuesday.

On Thursday, there was renewed focus on the public inquiry being televised, with everyone watching Stephen Bradshaw, an investigator for the Post Office. He seemed unsettled as he faced accusations of bullying and intimidating suspects by accusing them of lying. However, Bradshaw denied these allegations.

Branch owners and employees of the Post Office often resided in the same communities where they worked. Unfortunately, when accused of theft, many of them were ostracized.

Lisa Brennan, a previous employee at a post office located in Huyton, close to Liverpool, shared with the investigation that she was mistakenly charged for taking 3,000 pounds ($3,800) in 2003, causing her marriage to dissolve and her to become homeless with her young child.

In 2022, during the inquiry, she expressed her outrage stating that it was unacceptable and should have never occurred. She added that although she was not the only one affected, she was made to feel like she was the sole target.

In 2008, Janine Powell, who used to work as a subpostmistress in Tiverton, Devon, was found guilty of taking approximately 71,000 pounds ($90,000). She expressed feeling shattered upon receiving an 18-month prison sentence.

After her release, she faced difficulties in her relationship with her three children, who were between the ages of 10 and 18. She also struggled to find employment and even resorted to self-harm and thoughts of suicide.

“It made a significant impression. It is necessary to disclose that one has a criminal record,” stated Powell. “When attempting to clarify to potential employers, the immediate response is a ‘no’, which prevented me from being able to work.”

The government intends to allocate a sum of 1 billion pounds ($1.28 billion) to provide compensation for those who were wrongly convicted and for those whose lives were harmed by the scandal.

As of now, approximately 150 million pounds has been given to over 2,500 individuals who were affected, according to Sunak.

The proposed law would nullify guilty verdicts and compensate individuals who have been exonerated with at least 600,000 pounds ($765,000), according to the government. They may be eligible for more if they undergo a review of their case.

Individuals who were not found guilty but suffered financial loss would receive a minimum of 75,000 pounds ($95,000) as compensation.

The government has indicated that there is a possibility that certain postal workers who have engaged in fraudulent or thieving behavior may be cleared of any wrongdoing and receive restitution.

“The risk is that instead of unjust convictions, we shall end up with unjust acquittals and we just do not know how many,” Hollinrake said. “But we cannot make the provision of compensation subject to a detailed examination of guilt.”

Furthermore, the Parliament committee intends to interview the CEOs of both the Post Office and Fujitsu next week regarding the inquiry.

Hollinrake stated that the investigation will determine the parties and individuals accountable for the scandal. Certain members of Parliament are advocating for legal action against those who allowed postmasters to be held accountable for the flawed software.

“David Davis, a member of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons, inquired whether the government will expedite the investigations into prosecuting the true perpetrators of this scandal for obstructing justice.”

Recently, authorities in London announced an investigation into potential fraudulent activities involving funds received by the Post Office through legal action taken against postal employees. Additionally, they are exploring the potential for charges of perjury or obstruction of justice in relation to the Post Office’s handling of these cases.

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Sylvia Hui, a writer for the Associated Press, contributed to this report.

Source: wral.com