Fujitsu’s European boss has said the technology giant is determined to “get to the truth wherever it lays” as he answered questions at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.
Paul Patterson reiterated his apology to subpostmasters, describing the scandal as an “appalling miscarriage of justice”.
Mr Patterson was facing his second grilling of the week after appearing at the Business and Trade Committee on Tuesday, where he conceded that there were “bugs and errors” in the Horizon system.
To the subpostmasters and their families, we apologise. Fujitsu apologises and is sorry for our part in this appalling miscarriage of justice
Reiterating his apology to subpostmasters as he gave evidence to the probe on Friday, Mr Patterson said: “To the subpostmasters and their families, we apologise.
“Fujitsu apologises and is sorry for our part in this appalling miscarriage of justice.
“This inquiry is examining those events forensically over many, many decades, which involve many parties, not least Fujitsu and the Post Office, but other organisations and individuals.
“We are determined to continue to support this inquiry and get to the truth wherever it lays and at the conclusion of the inquiry and the guidance from this inquiry, engage with Government on suitable contribution and redress to the subpostmasters and their families.”
Mr Patterson’s evidence as part of phase four of the public inquiry will look at the action taken against subpostmasters, including civil and criminal proceedings and failures in investigations.
The statutory inquiry, which began in 2021, was established to ensure there was a “public summary of the failings which occurred with the Horizon IT system at the Post Office” and which subsequently led to the wrongful convictions of subpostmasters.
The probe is chaired by retired judge Sir Wyn Williams, who has previously looked at the human impact of the scandal, the Horizon system rollout and the operation of the system.
