The Metropolitan Police is investigating the Post Office over “potential fraud offences” after the wrongful prosecution of subpostmasters.
The police confirmed on Friday that it’s trying into the dealing with of the Horizon IT scandal – “such as the monies recovered from subpostmasters as a result of prosecutions or civil actions”.
Detectives are additionally individually trying into “potential offences of perjury and perverting the course of justice” in an investigation that was launched in January 2020.
Two folks have been interviewed below warning, however no one has been arrested.
Read extra: The true story behind drama on Horizon IT scandal
Former subpostmasters and subpostmistresses had been held liable by the Post Office for monetary discrepancies thrown up by its computerised accounting system Horizon.
Faulty Fujitsu software program made it seem as if cash was lacking from their shops.
The Post Office’s pursuit led to greater than 700 prosecutions, legal convictions and, in some instances, jail sentences.
Many of these pursued had been advised to plead responsible to crimes or face jail, in line with attorneys who’ve represented dozens of these impacted.
They had been pressured to pay the Post Office cash it claimed had gone lacking, which meant many misplaced their jobs, houses and life financial savings.
It has been described as probably the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK historical past, and a public inquiry into it’s ongoing.
Read extra:
Explainer: What is the Post Office scandal?
Post Office ‘massively contributed’ to subpostmaster loss of life – widow
Victims of Post Office Horizon scandal provided £600k compensation
More than half 1,000,000 folks have signed an internet petition calling for the previous Post Office boss to have her CBE taken away over the scandal.
Paula Vennells later mentioned she was “truly sorry” for the “suffering” induced to subpostmasters who had been wrongly convicted of offences.
After ITV aired a drama into the scandal, Mr Bates vs The Post Office starring actor Toby Jones, 50 new potential victims have approached attorneys, it has been mentioned.
Source: information.sky.com”