Post Office scandal: Disgraced Paula Vennells set to grovel in Horizon inquiry | UK | News | EUROtoday

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells is to face three days of questions at a public inquiry which begins right this moment.

Vennells is accused of overseeing what has been described as essentially the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK historical past after subpostmasters began experiencing unexplained losses of their accounts because of the defective Horizon IT system, which they have been held answerable for beneath their contract with the Post Office.

She is about to offer proof throughout a section of the probe which is governance, so she can be questioned on the selections she made throughout her time in management roles on the Post Office.

Vennells may very well be quizzed on her information of the flexibility to remotely entry the Horizon system, alleged false proof given by professional witnesses throughout Post Office prosecutions, and the behaviour of the corporate’s investigators and attorneys.

The former CEO is an ordained vicar who gave up her CBE and reiterated her apology expressing remorse for the hurt brought on to the subpostmaster victims.

More than 700 subpostmasters have been prosecuted by the Post Office for allegations corresponding to theft and false accounting – with many despatched to jail or bankrupted.

The majority of Post Office witnesses on the inquiry haven’t been in a position to recall a lot about their time on the firm because the scandal unfolded and subpostmasters are hoping Vennells will make clear what occurred beneath her watch.

The former chief govt may very well be key to understanding whether or not or not any Post Office employees is perhaps criminally answerable for the wrongful prosecutions and convictions of subpostmasters.

The Metropolitan Police has already stated it’s “potential fraud offences arising out of these prosecutions”; for instance, “monies recovered from subpostmasters as a result of prosecutions or civil actions”.

Two Fujitsu consultants, who have been witnesses within the trials, are being investigated for perjury and perverting the course of justice – however no person has been arrested for the reason that inquiry was launched in January 2020.

It comes after the Government introduced those that have had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts.

Hundreds are nonetheless awaiting full compensation.