Over 700 sub-postmasters in the UK were wrongfully accused of theft, fraud, and false accounting between 2000 and 2014 due to issues with the Horizon computer system. The cases of Susan Sinclair and William Quarm were among six cases being considered in Scotland which found a group of Post Office workers guilty of embezzlement. However, following an appeal, the convictions of Sinclair and Quarm have been quashed. Unfortunately, Quarm has since passed away.
During the hearing, Lady Dorrian, who presided over the case, stated that “it seems that some progress has been made in these cases.” She added that “the court has read the material in the cases of Sinclair and Quarm and subject to anything that parties might say we are satisfied that the appeals in these cases should succeed.” Judith Smith, Aleid Kloosterhuis, Colin Smith, and Robert Thomson have also appealed their convictions.
The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) found that new information about Horizon, which had emerged since Sinclair’s trial, would bear “material” on a “critical issue.” Additionally, the SCCRC concluded that the guilty pleas given by the five individuals were made in “circumstances that were, or could be said to be, clearly prejudicial to them.”
Lawyer David Enright represents over 180 sub-postmasters across the UK, including those in Scotland. He described the decision as a “significant moment” but noted that it should have occurred “years ago.” Enright hopes the Scottish authorities will work swiftly to overturn other convictions. As a result of being wrongfully accused, workers are eligible for £600,000 each in compensation. A UK-wide inquiry into the Post Office scandal is currently underway
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