Fujitsu – the IT firm at centre of Post Office Scandal
- Fujitsu may soon be pursued for its role in the Post Office Scandal
- It provided dodgy software known as ‘Horizon’ to the Post Office
- The Post Office used data from Horizon to convict hundreds of subpostmasters
Published: 00:15, 9 January 2024 | Updated: 01:36, 9 January 2024
Technology giant Fujitsu could be pursued for millions of pounds in compensation over its role in the Post Office scandal, the Government hinted yesterday.
The Japanese multinational, worth around GBP58billion, has so far paid nothing to help subpostmasters wrongly convicted of theft and fraud because of its faulty Horizon system.
But Downing Street[2] indicated Fujitsu could be hauled into court if the public inquiry finds it at fault. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘The culpability or otherwise of Fujitsu is something that is being examined as part of the independent inquiry process so I’m unable to fully opine at this point.
‘Obviously it should not be the taxpayer alone which picks up the tab for Horizon compensation.’
Yesterday, it emerged Fujitsu had signed 200 contracts worth GBP6.7billion in total to supply IT solutions to the Government over the last decade.
They include a GBP19million deal to run England’s flood alert system that was made just three weeks ago.
Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells has been called on to hand her honours back
The Post Office recently awarded a contract worth more than GBP36million to Fujitsu to extend the use of Horizon until spring 2025 (File image)
And, as the Mail revealed on Monday, the Post Office recently awarded a contract worth more than GBP36million to Fujitsu to extend the use of Horizon until spring 2025.
The Post Office said its use of Horizon was supposed to have ended last year, with it hoping to find a new provider.
But it had to ‘pivot back’ because the change ‘created fundamental technical challenges that Post Office Ltd could not economically and technically overcome’.
It said the GBP36million deal ‘was a modification to our agreement with the company and not a new contract’.
Former Cabinet minister Sir David Davis said the firm should not be given any more government contracts until the public inquiry establishes whether it ‘meddled’ with Post Office workers’ computers.
He added: ‘The indications are that Fujitsu’s employees have not been entirely straightforward about that. I would certainly suspend any possibility of a new contract until that’s over.
‘But I don’t want to see one injustice followed by another, so we’ve got to stick with the process and make sure that we’re checking the facts and doing what we should do.’
More than one million people have signed a petition calling for former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to lose her CBE amid growing anger over the Horizon scandal
The Horizon scandal has been been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history
Former Tory MP Lord Arbuthnot added: ‘I can’t understand why a company that behaves in such a devious way is still winning contracts.’
Britain is one of the key international markets for Fujitsu, which employs around 7,000 people.
The Horizon accounting system, used by the Post Office from 1999, wrongly accused postmasters of taking money from their businesses, resulting in thousands being forced into repaying the non-existent shortfalls and dozens being jailed.
Last night solicitor James Hartley, who represented 555 postmasters in their fight for justice, told the Daily Mail that the victims cannot sue Fujitsu directly.
He said: ‘It is possible but difficult for Fujitsu to be pursued for compensation.
The Post Office would need to issue a legal claim for breach of contract alleging that they were at fault for the Horizon system being faulty.
‘Fujitsu would very likely deny liability by arguing that the Post Office is to blame for continuing to prosecute and take money from postmasters despite knowing there were problems with the Horizon system.’
Chris Trousdale, 41, ran a post office in Lealholm, North Yorkshire, and was fined GBP800 and given community service after Horizon wrongly declared that GBP7,800 was missing from his till. He said: ‘Fujitsu are getting away with it scot-free, and they’re still being awarded massive government contracts.
‘No matter how long it takes, the victims want justice to be done from the top to the bottom. We won’t rest until it happens.’
A Fujitsu spokesman said: ‘The current Post Office Horizon IT statutory inquiry is examining complex events stretching back over 20 years to understand who knew what, when, and what they did with that knowledge.
‘The inquiry has reinforced the devastating impact on postmasters’ lives and on their families…
Fujitsu has apologised for its role in their suffering.’
References
- ^ Chris Pollard (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Downing Street (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Downing Street (www.dailymail.co.uk)