The Monetary Occasions article additionally said that the Put up Workplace obtained 700 of the 900 convictions by profiting from the prosecution powers held by personal firms within the UK. The opposite convictions have been in instances introduced by Scottish prosecutors. The scandal might result in reforms to the personal prosecution system, permitting organizations to take individuals to courtroom.
Folks knew about bugs “as early as 1999”
Earlier this week, Patterson advised members of the British Parliament, “Fujitsu apologizes for our function on this surprising miscarriage of justice. We’ve been concerned from the start. There are real flaws in our programs and In error, we did help the Put up Workplace of their prosecution of the Deputy Postmaster Normal. We’re deeply sorry for that.”
Patterson additionally advised members of parliament that Fujitsu had a “ethical obligation” to offer compensation to victims.
Patterson testified on separate events immediately, answering questions from attorneys representing the victims. Flora Web page, one of many attorneys, requested Patterson: “Traditionally nobody has made a really clear connection between very dangerous code operating and really dangerous information popping out by litigation help companies. Contact me?”
Patterson responded: “Whether or not individuals made that connection or not, what’s clear is…that connection and understanding of what was happening and the place it was was understood by Fujitsu as early as 1999 and by the Put up Workplace. In fact I perceive.” … All of it is determined by what you do with the data … which is a query on this survey. “
Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton and postmaster common, advised the BBC that his “first precedence” was to “attempt to get compensation and discover solutions for individuals”.
“Marriages fail, individuals commit suicide, and it has a horrible impression on individuals’s lives,” he mentioned. “It’s completely cheap for the general public to demand that folks be held accountable, and this could imply prison prosecutions wherever doable.” The British authorities additionally plans to introduce a brand new legislation to “shortly exonerate and compensate” individuals who have been wrongly convicted of crimes.
This story initially appeared in Expertise Arts Competition.