The FT article additionally mentioned the Post Office, which used prosecution powers accessible to non-public firms within the UK, obtained 700 of the 900 convictions. The different convictions got here in instances introduced by Scottish prosecutors. The scandal could result in reforms of the non-public prosecution system that lets organizations take folks to court docket.
Bugs Were Understood “Way Back to 1999”
Earlier this week, Patterson informed UK Parliament members that “Fujitsu want to apologize for our half on this appalling miscarriage of justice. We had been concerned from the very begin. We did have bugs and errors within the system and we did assist the Post Office of their prosecutions of the sub-postmasters. For that we’re actually sorry.”
Patterson additionally informed Parliament members that Fujitsu has “an ethical obligation” to contribute to the compensation for victims.
Patterson testified at present in a unique setting, answering questions from attorneys representing victims. One of these attorneys, Flora Page, requested Patterson, “Did no person traditionally make that fairly apparent connection between very poor code going out into operation after which very poor information popping out and thru the litigation assist service?”
Patterson answered, “Whether folks made that connection or not, what could be very evident… is that that connection and understanding about what was occurring and the place was it, was understood by definitely Fujitsu and definitely understood by Post Office approach again to 1999. It’s all about what you do with that data… that could be a query for this inquiry.”
Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake, the MP for Thirsk and Malton, informed the BBC that his “primary precedence” is to “attempt to get compensation and get solutions for folks.”
“You’ve had marriages fail, folks commit suicide, an horrendous influence on folks’s lives,” he mentioned. “It’s completely cheap that the general public ought to demand individuals are held to account and that ought to imply legal prosecutions wherever potential.” The UK authorities additionally has plans for a brand new legislation to “swiftly exonerate and compensate” individuals who had been falsely convicted.
This story initially appeared on Ars Technica.