A lawyer employed by the Post Office was alerted to issues with the Horizon system just before the trial of a pregnant sub-postmistress but failed to share this crucial information with the defense team, as the ongoing Post Office inquiry has revealed. In October 2010, an email from a member of the Post Office security team highlighted potential problems with Horizon, sent to in-house solicitor Jarnail Singh along with an attachment containing detailed findings from Fujitsu. Singh claimed he hadn’t seen the email or attachment and didn’t print the documents, citing a lack of familiarity with saving attachments at the time.
During the inquiry, counsel Jason Beer KC probed Singh’s knowledge of Horizon system bugs prior to 2013, suggesting the possibility of a cover-up. Singh vehemently denied any intention to deceive, emphasizing his commitment to assisting the inquiry. Additionally, the inquiry uncovered an email from in-house civil lawyer Mandy Talbot to Singh, wherein he promised to keep her updated on any significant Horizon-related developments during the trial.
Despite characterizing himself as merely a conduit within the organization, Singh was actively involved in discussions regarding prosecutions and agreements intended to silence sub-postmasters regarding Horizon issues. This suggests a more significant role in the management of information and decision-making processes than previously acknowledged. As the inquiry delves deeper, it’s becoming increasingly evident that Singh’s involvement may have far-reaching implications for the handling of Horizon system issues within the Post Office and the individuals affected by its shortcomings.
