David Miller, a former Post Office executive, acknowledged errors in the management of the Horizon IT system, during an inquiry into the wrongful prosecution of subpostmasters.
David Miller, a former Post Office executive, admitted to errors in handling the Horizon IT system during a public inquiry into the scandal that involved the wrongful prosecution of more than 700 subpostmasters due to IT glitches. Miller conceded that he mistakenly affirmed the system’s robustness in a 1999 board meeting and acknowledged not reviewing crucial reports indicating the system’s defects, including one that labeled Horizon as “clearly defective.”
Miller also addressed allegations from a 2010 presentation, denying he compared Fujitsu, the developers of Horizon, to an assailant, describing such a comment as “unprofessional.” Furthermore, he denied leading a controversial plan to target the pensions of subpostmasters accused of fraud, discussed in a 2004 board meeting.
The inquiry also explored the Post Office’s dual role as investigator and prosecutor which raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Miller recognized his oversight in not reading a critical expert report during legal proceedings against a subpostmistress, which led to an unnecessarily high settlement.
The inquiry continues to examine the complexities and managerial decisions surrounding the Post Office’s handling of the Horizon system scandal. The government has initiated a compensation scheme for those affected by the wrongful prosecutions.
