Convictions of Remaining Sub-Postmasters Quashed in Scotland
The exoneration of all wrongly convicted sub-postmasters in Scotland involved in the Horizon scandal took effect on Friday as a new law came into force. The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Act nullifies convictions during a period when faulty Horizon accounting software falsely indicated missing money at Post Office branches. This Scottish law, which gained Royal Assent on Thursday, mirrors a similar law that recently took effect in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
According to the law, sub-postmasters convicted of certain offenses between September 23, 1996, and December 31, 2018, are now exonerated. Those affected are eligible for compensation from the UK government, set to be available by summer. Even those who previously had their appeals denied in the High Court will be included in the exoneration.
Over the years, more than 700 Post Office branch managers across the UK faced prosecution under the faulty system from 1999 to 2015. Approximately 100 sub-postmasters in Scotland were wrongly convicted of embezzlement. Recent inquiries revealed early knowledge of system bugs but were denied by former Post Office senior in-house lawyer Jarnail Singh.
The Scottish government confirmed that it will inform affected individuals and update police and court records accordingly. Justice Secretary Angela Constance expressed sympathy for those impacted by the Horizon IT Scandal and emphasized the importance of clearing their names and providing swift access to financial redress.
Sub-Postmistress’s Son May Be Covered
During a court hearing in Edinburgh, a lawyer suggested that the son of a sub-postmistress, who admitted to stealing to protect his mother from imprisonment, may be covered by the new law. The case of Ravinder Naga, who received community service in 2010, was under review and referred to the High Court of Justiciary by the Scottish Cases Review Commission.
At the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Judge Lady Dorrian discussed the case and its link to the Horizon scandal. She raised questions about the impact of system deficiencies on Naga’s conviction and called for a two-day appeal hearing scheduled for September 26.
PA Media contributed to this report.
