Who is Gareth Jenkins? Fujitsu tech expert who helped build Post Office Horizon system
Plans to clear the names of hundreds of Post Office branch managers wrongly convicted in the Horizon IT scandal are to be announced “imminently”.
Rishi Sunak will face MPs for Prime Minister’s Questions and is under pressure to set out how the Government will exonerate hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly accused of swindling money as a result of the flawed computer system.
Ministers say compensation has been paid to more than 2,700 claimants, but hundreds were also prosecuted over shortfalls in their branches caused by software errors.
The testimony of Fujitsu engineer, Gareth Jenkins, has been notably absent from discussions around what is believed to be the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice, however.
But who is Mr Jenkins and what is his role in the Horizon IT scandal?
Who is Gareth Jenkins?
A Cambridge mathematics graduate, Mr Jenkins was the tech expert who helped build the faulty Horizon IT system.
A former chief architect at Fujitsu, the 69-year-old is a key witness in the inquiry. He previously gave evidence defending the reliability of the Horizon computer system in trials of subpostmasters which resulted in their wrongful conviction.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed last week it was investigating “matters concerning Fujitsu Horizon and the Post Office… into potential offences of perjury and perverting the course of justice”.
Although he has been summoned to give evidence twice in the ongoing public inquiry, both occasions have been postponed. Mr Jenkins has also requested immunity twice.
Refusing his request, Sir Wyn Williams, the inquiry chairman, said: “I am satisfied that Mr Jenkins has not been the victim of unfairness as yet and I am determined that he should not become the victim of unfairness as the work of the inquiry progresses.”
‘Truly sorry for the devastation’
Paula Vennells, the former boss of the Post Office, has confirmed she will hand back her CBE with immediate effect amid the fallout of the Horizon IT scandal.
In a written statement issued to the PA news agency, Ms Vennells said: “I continue to support and focus on co-operating with the inquiry and expect to be giving evidence in the coming months.
“I have so far maintained my silence as I considered it inappropriate to comment publicly while the inquiry remains ongoing and before I have provided my oral evidence. I am, however, aware of the calls from sub-postmasters and others to return my CBE.”
Ms Vennells said she was “truly sorry” for the “devastation” the scandal had caused to staff falsely accused of fraud.
She continued: “I have listened and I confirm that I return my CBE with immediate effect.
“I am truly sorry for the devastation caused to the subpostmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system.
“I now intend to continue to focus on assisting the inquiry and will not make any further public comment until it has concluded.”
David Smith, who started a petition calling for Ms Vennells to be stripped of her CBE – which was signed by more than 1.2 million people – said the decision to hand the honour back was “symbolic” and hopefully “just the start”.
The former software developer from Greater Manchester said: “To me, the removal of the CBE is just the start. The ultimate goal is for the subpostmasters to get the justice they deserve. In many ways, this is symbolic, but it is a massive symbol.
“What I’m hoping is that as soon as somebody as senior as her is held accountable at this level, it will start a domino effect that will lead to the justice and compensation that everyone affected deserves.”
Robin Priestley, campaigns director at 38 Degrees, which hosted the petition, said: “This is an incredible example of people power in action.”
