Horizon IT Scandal: Leaked recordings reveal Post Office officials knew about Fujitsu’s instructions to remotely change deputy postmaster’s account 10 years ago

The post office’s IT help desk instructed Fujitsu, maker of faulty accounting software, to change the deputy postmaster’s account more than a decade ago, according to leaked recordings.

Two secret recordings of Post Office officials obtained by Sky News show how aware the state-owned company was of flaws in the Horizon IT program used by deputy postmasters to record branch transactions.

Hundreds of people have been prosecuted for theft and false accounting, while many more borrowed large sums of money, lost their homes and moved out of their areas after the horizon created incorrect shortages.

Forensic accountants Second Sight examined Horizon’s problems in 2013, two years before the post office stopped using the software’s data to sue the deputy postmaster general.

“Fujitsu tells post office: We will change balance”

The forensic accountants said in leaked calls in May 2013 that they discovered emails sent from the post office to Fujitsu.

Ian Henderson of Second Sight said: “What we’re seeing in the emails is [Fujitsu] We actually got instructions directly from the service desk saying, ‘Look, we need to fix this. You know, can you work your magic? The response was, ‘Yes, it will be done tonight.’ We’re going to change the balance or whatever. “

Participating in the call were the Post Office’s chief attorney, Susan Crichton, and corporate secretary, Alwen Lyons, as well as another Second Sight forensic accountant, Ron Warmington. Warmington).

The specific date, time and place where Fujitsu made the “correction”

On another tape, Mr Henderson told Post Office IT staff that Second Sight had found the specific date, time and branch where Fujitsu made “corrections” or “adjustments” to the deputy postmaster’s account.

“We’ve identified some very specific dates and times and, in fact, branches that have this capability [to alter accounts] It is alleged to have been used,” he said.

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Susan Crichton, the post office’s chief attorney, raised concerns about Fujitsu’s so-called post office testing facility in a recorded conversation with Second Sight. “Maybe, you know, that does exist,” she said.

Second Sight’s Mr Henderson wants the focus to continue to be on the post office.

“Well, remember that’s [Post Office Limited] employee. They happen to be located in the Fujitsu building. I don’t think we can put the blame on Fujitsu,” he said.

‘Tough years’ ahead

Henderson said Fujitsu was learning about Second Sight’s latest findings and was “nervous about the whole thing.” “I’m feeling some resonance along those lines.”

Ms. Clayton responded that the information should have been included in the email Second Sight sent to postal officials.

She’s bracing for tough times at Fujitsu. “I think we’ve had a tough few years with them.”

Post office delays slow investigation

Second Sight has already faced difficulties in its investigation, in part due to delays at the post office.

Second Sight forensic accountant Ron Warmington said some of Horizon’s data was “weakly based”, meaning it was unable to complete its investigation into situations where the deputy postmaster general said Horizon was not working properly. investigation.

Mr Warmington said: “We have recorded the assertions made by the Deputy Postmaster General and have verified them to the best of our ability without looking at Horizon data and submitted them but we have not yet received from the Post Office Limited and/ or response. Or we have not yet obtained the underlying data to verify or refute this assertion.”

Second Sight’s Mr Henderson told Ms Clayton, the post office’s chief lawyer, that the post office sometimes took six weeks to respond.

“Also, frankly, when we have
Something was slammed and it took six weeks to get a substantive reply. “

“Yes, you need to yell at me,” Ms. Clayton said.

Second Sight’s contract was ultimately terminated by the Post Office in 2015 before their work was completed.

Paula Vinnells faces new pressure

The recordings also show the extent of former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells’ knowledge of Horizon’s lapses, six years after the organization admitted wrongdoing in 2019 and served as deputy post office Chief’s victim apologized as part of a successful High Court challenge.

Officials said in the recording that they were updating Ms Vennells on the situation. Company secretary Alwen Lyons said: “The way I tried to brief Paula was as soon as I had evidence she knew there was a problem the next minute.”

Two years on from the date of the recorded call, Ms Vennells told MPs on the Business and Trade Committee that remote access to Horizon was not possible. This denial was used in the court case against the deputy postmaster general.

Today the committee said all options were on the table, including finding Ms Vennells in contempt of parliament.

Business and Trade Commissioner Liam Byrne said: “We are deeply concerned by the latest revelations about the Post Office and will explore options to punish the leadership that presided over the scandal.”

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Responding to the Sky News report, Ms Vinnells said: “I will continue to support and focus on cooperating with the investigation and expect to provide evidence in the coming months.

“I am deeply sorry for the devastation Horizon has caused to the Deputy Postmaster General and his family, whose lives have been torn apart by Horizon’s false accusations and wrongful prosecution.

“I now intend to remain focused on assisting the investigation and will not make any further public comments until the investigation is concluded.”

A spokesman for the Post Office said: “We remain fully focused on getting to the bottom of what happened and support a statutory public inquiry, chaired by a judge who has the power to examine witnesses under oath and is therefore best suited to achieve this aim. “

Fujitsu declined to comment.

Alvin Lyons and Susan Clayton did not respond to requests for comment.

Additional reporting by commercial producer Emily Jennings.