Fujitsu’s European chief acknowledges “moral obligation” to compensate victims of Post Office scandal
London, UK – In a major development in the long-running Post Office scandal in Britain, Fujitsu’s boss of its European arm, Duncan Tait, has acknowledged a “moral obligation” to compensate the victims of the Horizon IT system debacle. The system, provided by Fujitsu, falsely accused postmasters of theft and fraud, leading to wrongful convictions and even suicides.
Over 2,700 current or former sub-postmasters have already received compensation, but there are growing calls for Fujitsu to also contribute. A public inquiry is currently underway to determine responsibility for the scandal, and Fujitsu expects to negotiate compensation after its conclusion.
The UK government has labeled the Post Office scandal as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history. In response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced legislation to quash the convictions. However, the process has been slow, with only 93 out of 700 convictions overturned so far.
The false convictions caused immense harm to the lives of the victims, including emotional distress, financial ruin, and strained relationships. Both Fujitsu and the Post Office have acknowledged their roles and expressed their apologies. Yet, questions still remain about who knew what, and whether there was a deliberate attempt to cover up the flaws in the Horizon system.
In light of the scandal, Nick Read, CEO of the Post Office, has expressed his commitment to abandon the outdated and clunky Horizon system. This move comes as a welcomed reassurance for the affected postmasters and a step toward preventing future injustices.
As the public inquiry continues, the eyes of the nation are on Fujitsu and how it will fulfill its “moral obligation” to compensate the postmasters. The victims and their families are hoping for a fair resolution that acknowledges the damage caused by the faulty IT system, and ensures that no more lives are shattered as a result of such technological failures.
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