Chair gives decision on witness request for undertaking from Attorney General

Undertaking sought by former Fujitsu employee to limit use of evidence in criminal proceedings

Sir Wyn Williams has said today that he is not currently persuaded that he should seek an undertaking from the Attorney General that would restrict the use in any criminal proceedings of evidence given to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.   

Gareth Jenkins, a long-serving former Fujitsu employee whose evidence about the Horizon system was used in the prosecution of sub-postmasters, requested that the Chair seek such an undertaking after he was asked to provide a witness statement to the Inquiry.  

After seeking the views of core participants to the Inquiry, including sub-postmasters and the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Wyn Williams said “I am not persuaded that it is necessary, to discharge the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, that I should request an undertaking from the Attorney General”. 

In setting out his decision, the Chair notes “there is a strong feeling amongst the sub-postmasters that the ongoing criminal investigation and any potential future criminal proceedings against Mr Jenkins should not be prejudiced or impeded in any way”. He also notes that the Inquiry already has a significant body of evidence concerning the knowledge, conduct and activities of Mr Jenkins.

Sir Wyn Williams will keep this decision under review and notes that Mr Jenkins, through his solicitors, has said he has a desire to assist the Inquiry. 

The Chair’s full decision is published here. 

Ends 

Notes to editors: 

1. The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is an independent public inquiry examining failings surrounding the Post Office’s Horizon IT system which led to the suspension and termination of contracts, and the wrongful prosecution and conviction of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses. Read the List of Issues the Inquiry is examining here.