Former Fujitsu engineer claims he was “trapped” into giving misleading evidence by Post Office in subpostmaster prosecutions: Inquiry hearing details

Former Fujitsu engineer claims he was “trapped” into giving misleading evidence by the Post Office in subpostmaster scandal

In a shocking revelation at the latest Post Office scandal public inquiry hearing, a former senior Fujitsu engineer, Gareth Jenkins, claimed he was manipulated into providing misleading evidence that led to the wrongful convictions of subpostmasters accused of theft and fraud.

Jenkins, once a distinguished engineer at Fujitsu, testified that he felt “trapped” by the Post Office into focusing on narrow questions about individual branches, while ignoring the wider system at play. He admitted that his role in court cases was to tell the truth, but was accused by barrister Flora Page of being a “Fujitsu company man” who was protecting the flawed Horizon system created for the Post Office.

One of the victims of the scandal, Seema Misra, a former subpostmistress who was wrongly convicted based on evidence provided by Jenkins, was present at the inquiry hearing. Jenkins expressed regret for his role in Misra’s wrongful conviction, attributing it to the behavior of the Post Office.

Misra, who was pregnant at the time of her conviction, was sentenced to 15 months in prison before her conviction was overturned in 2021. Jenkins admitted to developing a “sideline” supporting Post Office prosecutions and revealed that he had been dropped as an expert witness after giving misleading evidence.

The Post Office scandal, first exposed by Computer Weekly in 2009, has been described as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history. Jenkins’ testimony at the inquiry has shed light on the questionable practices that led to the wrongful convictions of innocent subpostmasters, sparking further scrutiny of the Horizon system and the evidence used in court cases.

Despite the controversy surrounding his involvement in the scandal, Jenkins was praised by Ian Henderson, director at forensic accountancy firm Second Sight, for his cooperation during their investigation of the Horizon system. Henderson described Jenkins as “straight as a die” and commended his willingness to assist in uncovering the truth behind the flawed system.

As the public inquiry delves deeper into the Post Office scandal, the role of individuals like Gareth Jenkins in perpetuating the injustice faced by innocent subpostmasters is coming under increased scrutiny. The quest for justice and accountability continues as the victims of the scandal seek answers and restitution for the harm caused by the wrongful convictions.