Seema Misra, a former subpostmistress in Surrey, who was wrongfully convicted of theft in 2008 and served a 15-month prison sentence starting in 2010, has declined to accept an apology from the Post Office. Misra, who was pregnant at the time of her jailing, had her conviction overturned and has stated the lasting impact it had on her life, particularly on her son. The apology from Post Office managing director David Smith, who once celebrated her conviction in an email, was deemed insufficient by Misra. Smith attempted to explain his email, stating his message represented his support for the legal team’s work rather than celebrating Misra’s actual conviction.

In related developments, former Post Office managing director Alan Cook admitted during a public inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal that for over three years he did not know he was heading a prosecuting authority. He expressed regret for his unawareness and for not challenging the Post Office’s decisions regarding the prosecutions. Cook also apologized for extending what he termed an “unacceptable” strategy of using theft accusations to intimidate subpostmasters into guilty pleas.

Former Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier equally testified at the inquiry, admitting his lack of understanding regarding prosecution processes carried out by lawyers belonging to the Royal Mail Group rather than by the Post Office legal team. Crozier expressed regret for the ongoing injustices faced by subpostmasters and their families due to wrongful prosecutions linked to the flawed Horizon IT system.

The government has recognized the need for compensation for the affected subpostmasters, yet many still await a resolution. The inquiry continues to investigate the role of various Post Office and Royal Mail executives and their decisions related to the Horizon system, aiming to establish accountability and seek justice for the subpostmasters affected by these wrongful prosecutions.