"It's taken 21 years of my life, to be honest."
More than 15 years after being wrongly jailed while pregnant, former sub-postmistress Seema Misra is still waiting for full compensation following the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Seema ran a post office in West Byfleet, Surrey, and was jailed in 2010 after being wrongly accused of theft and false accounting based on faulty Horizon IT data.
Her conviction was overturned in 2021, but she said her final claim is still being calculated by accountants and lawyers.
The delays were highlighted in a report by the Business and Trade Committee, which found administrative errors, delays and undervalued offers continue to affect several compensation schemes.
Reflecting on the length of the ordeal, Seema said: “It’s taken 21 years of my life, to be honest.
“June 2005, that’s when we bought the post office and, the very first day, we had issues and then the legal battle started in 2008.”
The Horizon scandal is widely regarded as one of the most serious miscarriages of justice in modern Britain. Hundreds of sub-postmasters were prosecuted after shortfalls appeared in accounts generated by the Horizon computer system, which was developed and maintained by Fujitsu.
Many victims lost their businesses, savings and reputations before courts began overturning convictions. Seema said the experience has had a lasting impact on her life and family, adding:
“It’s taken a toll. We never expected these things can happen in a democratic country.”
MPs examining the compensation schemes also heard evidence that the Horizon Shortfall Scheme, designed to compensate some victims, was “broken”.
Examples presented to the committee showed how initial offers worth hundreds of thousands of pounds were sometimes increased to more than £1 million after appeals.
Seema stated: “It looks like a land of two laws, currently. One law for a common person like me and you, and the other for the people in authorities.”
While victims want financial redress, Seema said accountability for those responsible is equally important.
She said she wanted those behind the wrongful convictions to face prison sentences, adding this would show “the system does work in the country and there’s nobody above [the] law”.
Seema also criticised the language often used around the financial settlements.
She said: “It’s our own money back we’ll be asking for.”
Although victims expected a long legal fight, she said the length of the process has exceeded expectations.
BTC chairperson Liam Byrne said ministers should take a tougher stance with Fujitsu over its role in the scandal and consider demanding an interim financial contribution.
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether the company had refused interim payments or had not been asked, Mr Byrne said:
“They haven’t been given a specific number; that is the challenge.
“We’ve got this judicial inquiry that is underway, judge-led inquiry that was underway, but it’s not clear if it is going to opine on exactly what Fujitsu’s guilt might be, nor how much Fujitsu should pay.”
He said ministers should act before the inquiry reaches its final conclusions.
Mr Byrne added: “We do think ministers need to be tougher with Fujitsu and actually demand an interim payment now before a final sum is settled.”
The Post Office said progress was being made in processing compensation claims.
A spokesperson said: “Progress has been made with 87% of eligible Horizon Shortfall Scheme applications having received an offer and £882m paid through the scheme.
“We are processing applications as quickly as possible to bring resolution to those who have applied.”
“We will review the committee’s recommendations and continue to work closely with the Department for Business and Trade.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said:
“We must never lose sight of the Horizon Scandal’s human impact on postmasters and their families.
“The amount we’ve paid out has increased more than sixfold as part of our ongoing commitment to deliver justice to victims as swiftly as possible.
“We welcome today’s report and agree that it is crucial Fujitsu meets its moral obligation to contribute to the total costs of the scandal, and will publish our response to its recommendations shortly.”
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