Bill to exonerate wrongly convicted sub-postmasters.
Sub-postmasters wrongly convicted as a result of the faulty Horizon IT system will automatically be exonerated under proposed legislation introduced to the Scottish Parliament today.
Those whose convictions are quashed under the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill will then be able to access the UK Government financial redress scheme.
The Billās passage through the Scottish Parliament will be expedited to allow justice and redress to be delivered to victims as swiftly as possible in line with the UK Bill, which was not extended to cover sub-postmasters in Scotland.
Background
If passed, the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill will mean relevant convictions are automatically quashed on the day the legislation comes into force and those exonerated will then be able to access the UK Government financial redress scheme, in line with its requirements.
The legislation will exonerate convicted sub-postmasters where the following criteria are met:
- the conviction was for embezzlement, fraud, theft, uttering or an ancillary offence committed between 23 September 1996 and 31 December 2018
- the person was carrying on a Post Office business, or working in a Post Office for the purpose of a Post Office business
- the conviction was in connection with carrying on, or working for the purpose of the Post Office business
- the Horizon system was being used for the purposes of the Post Office business in the relevant Post Office
- the conviction has not been considered by the High Court in connection with an appeal.
Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill
Once a Scottish Government Bill is introduced, responsibility for the scrutiny process, including timescales, rests with the Parliament. The Stage 1 debate and vote on the general principles of the Bill is expected to take place in the Scottish Parliament on 21 May; Stage 2 amendments will be considered on 22 May.