Post Office investigator denies behaving like ‘Mafia gangster’ over Horizon scandal

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A Publish Workplace investigator denied claims that he and others “behaved like Mafia gangsters” who tried to gather “bounty” from subpostmaster victims via threats and lies.

Surprising new particulars have emerged on how tons of of Publish Workplace department managers have been falsely convicted of swindling cash on the premise Fujitsu’s defective Horizon IT accounting system.

Victims of the Publish Workplace scandal have been instructed to not blame the defective Horizon IT system when pleading responsible to false fees, the general public inquiry heard on Thursday.

It comes as Rishi Sunak comes underneath strain to supply better compensation to victims, after saying that postmasters would have their convictions overturned underneath blanket laws.

Publish Workplace investigator Stephen Bradshaw denied claims that he bullied department managers, claimed he was solely a “small cog” within the system, and argued that he was not “technically” geared up to grasp whether or not there have been flaws within the Horizon system.

The inquiry heard an announcement by Jacqueline McDonald – who claimed she was “bullied” by Mr Bradshaw throughout a probe into her alleged shortfall. She additionally accused investigators of “behaving like Mafia gangsters”.

Ms McDonald pleaded responsible to theft after an audit discovered there had been a shortfall of over £94,000. She mentioned that in her interview with Mr Bradshaw she was accused of telling him a “pack of lies”.

Responding to Ms McDonald’s allegations of his aggressive behaviour in his witness assertion, Mr Bradshaw mentioned: “I refute the allegation that I’m a liar.”

He added: “I additionally refute the declare that Jacqueline McDonald was bullied … Ms Jacqueline McDonald can also be incorrect in stating Publish Workplace investigators behaved like Mafia gangsters trying to acquire their bounty with the threats and lies.”

Mr Bradshaw additionally admitted that it was “in all probability not” acceptable to supply a plea deal to falsely-accused sub-postmasters offered they didn’t blame the software program.

The investigator within the case in opposition to Katherine McQue was copied right into a memo which confirmed the subpostmistress was instructed her responsible plea to fraud was acceptable “as long as the defendant stipulated … there was nothing flawed with Horizon”.

Requested by the inquiry chairman Sir Wyn Williams if it was acceptable for the Publish Workplace to say, ‘We’ll settle for your plea, however provided that you don’t blame Horizon?’,” Mr Bradshaw mentioned: “In all probability not.”

The investigator – employed by the Publish Workplace since 1978 – instructed the inquiry he was not “technically minded” sufficient to know whether or not there have been bugs or errors within the Horizon system.

The witness started giving proof on Thursday after being concerned within the legal investigation of 9 subpostmasters. Mr Bradshaw has been accused by subpostmistress Rita Threlfall of asking her for the color of her eyes and what jewelry she wore earlier than saying: “Good, so we’ve received an outline of you for after they come”, throughout her interview in August 2010.

The investigator mentioned any data of flaws with Fujitsu’s Horizon software program not been “cascaded down” to investigators from the IT large or the Publish Workplace board. “I had no motive to suspect on the time that there was something flawed with the Horizon system as a result of we’d not been instructed,” mentioned Mr Bradshaw.

However he admitted that he had been instructed by colleagues about newspaper articles highlighting issues with the Horizon system, and has seen emails discussing potential points, since 2010.

Questioned over whether or not his division have been “drenched” in details about Horizon not working, Mr Bradshaw replied: “The data got here via, sure.”

Mr Bradshaw additionally mentioned a 2012 assertion signed by him declaring the Publish Workplace’s “absolute confidence” within the Horizon IT system had been written by regulation agency Cartwright King.

Requested if it was acceptable for him to declare “confidence” within the system, he mentioned: “In hindsight…there in all probability ought to have been one other line stating, ‘These usually are not my phrases’.”

No 10 mentioned on Thursday that the Sunak authorities “absolutely intends” to make Fujitsu foot the invoice for the scandal if the IT large is discovered culpable.

Justice secretary Alex Chalk has mentioned that Mr Sunak’s authorities will need to “safe correct recompense on behalf of the taxpayer” if the inquiry delivers a damning verdict on the agency.

Mr Sunak mentioned on Wednesday that harmless individuals embroiled within the fiasco can be “swiftly exonerated and compensated” with new laws aimed toward overturning greater than 700 convictions.

These whose convictions are quashed are eligible for a £600,000 compensation fee. There may also be a brand new upfront fee of £75,000 to these not convicted however affected by the scandal – together with those that misplaced cash by paying the sums allegedly stolen out of their very own pocket.

However No 10 admitted on Thursday {that a} “vital quantity” of the postmasters concerned in authorized motion in opposition to the Publish Workplace won’t settle for the £75,000 provided by the federal government.

The PM’s spokesman instructed reporters: “We’d estimate that round a 3rd of people would take that … We recognise that there shall be a major quantity for whom £75,000 shouldn’t be enough. That’s solely comprehensible.”

Requested in regards to the course of for in search of the next determine, the No 10 spokesman mentioned an impartial panel would assessment the declare with no involvement by the Publish Workplace.