Newly unearthed documents show the Post Office Solicitor's Office said in 1996 that the system 'couldn't provide a clear audit trail' - but bosses still prosecuted sub-postmasters for losses it had recorded
Newly unearthed documents show the Post Office Solicitor's Office said in 1996 that the system 'couldn't provide a clear audit trail' - but bosses still prosecuted sub-postmasters for losses it had recordedThe Post Office’s legal team told bosses that a second IT system was faulty and ‘unable to provide a clear audit trail’ but sub-postmasters were prosecuted anyway,Dozens of former sub-postmasters have come forward to claim they suffered accounting problems while using Capture,...
“The reason for maintaining manual records follows advice from the Post Office Solicitors Office that current automated systems are unable to provide a clear audit trail for transactions or for cash and stock holdings entered at any specific time,” the team said. A court transcript from the case of June Tooby, a sub-postmistress sued by the Post Office in 2003, revealed how Post Office investigators and lawyers denied under oath that the computer system was faulty.
Mr Marston recalls that when he was interviewed, Post Office investigators had print-outs from the Capture system which they cited as evidence of missing money., lawyers acting for the Post Office have told Mr Marston that they have been unable to find any evidence relating to his prosecution. Mr Hollinrake has said the Government needs to establish a “body of evidence” before agreeing to expand what is already an unprecedented use of parliamentary power.A spokesperson said previously: “We take very seriously any concerns raised about cases from before the Horizon system was first rolled out in 1999.
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