Calls for mass exoneration of victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal have been backed by First Minister Humza Yousaf. More than 700 sub-postmasters were accused of wrongdoing based on information from a faulty computer system between 1999 and 2015. Charges included theft, fraud and false accounting. Some of those convicted were jailed, while others lost their reputations and livelihoods; others have died. Although the scandal has been ongoing for years, the recent ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office has brought the issue back to the spotlight.
The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) wrote to 73 potential victims in Scotland in 2020 but only 16 have come forward to have their convictions quashed. Six people were then given permission by the SCCRC to appeal Horizon convictions in court but only two have been overturned so far. The other four are still awaiting an outcome.
The first minister was asked about potential legal moves after Conservative MP Sir David Davis said there was no reason why a “mass appeal” could not take place. Mr Yousaf said that the Scottish National Party has been asking for action in relation to Horizon and the injustices done to postmasters and sub-postmasters for many years. He added that the idea of almost a mass exoneration is one that is very worthy of consideration.
The first minister also said there were “serious questions” for those involved, especially Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who was postal affairs minister in the coalition government. UK ministers met on Monday to consider ways of clearing the names of hundreds of sub-postmasters. A UK-wide public inquiry into the scandal is ongoing and gathered evidence in Glasgow in 2022. Police Scotland is not currently investigating but “is liaising with other UK law enforcement partners and any information received will be assessed.
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