Postal executive denies Horizon backdoor cover-up

Former Post Office executive Angela van den Bogerd has said executives did not “hide” the knowledge that deputy postmasters’ computers could be accessed remotely.

Despite “a large number” of emails referring to the possibility of remote access to the Horizon computer system used in the branches, van den Bogerd had not disputed Post Office statements denying a backdoor, a lawyer said in a investigation into the scandal.

But he said he had not been trying to suppress information.

Previously, she told the inquiry she “didn’t knowingly do anything wrong.”

In hundreds of unfair prosecutions of subpostmasters, the Post Office claimed that they were to blame for shortfalls in accounts calculated using the Horizon computer system.

The prosecutions, between 1999 and 2015, landed people in prison, while many others were left financially ruined and lost their jobs, businesses and homes. Some died while waiting for justice.

In certain key cases, such as the landmark Bates v Post Office, the organization insisted that no other party could remotely access the Horizon software.

As part of that case, van den Bogerd told the High Court in March 2019 that he first learned about remote access “around the last year.”

But Jason Beer, lead attorney for the investigation, said Thursday: “That’s false, right?”

She replied: “At the time I didn’t think it was.”

Ms van den Bogerd featured prominently in the ITV drama that put the Post Office scandal back in the spotlight, played by former Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly.

Ms van den Bogerd said in her witness statement at the inquiry that she was not aware of the remote access to the accounts until 2011.

The investigation was shown a series of emails Ms van den Bogerd received between 2010 and 2014 about remote access to Horizon.

A Dec. 5, 2010, email from Lynn Hobbs, the organization’s general manager of network support, said she had “discovered that Fujitsu can make an entry into a branch account remotely.”

But Mrs van den Bogerd told the inquiry she “didn’t actually remember” receiving this.

He also received emails in 2011 and 2014 informing him of the possibility of remote access.

But in 2014, Post Office communications professional Melanie Corfield sent an email to several Post Office executives, including Ms van den Bogerd.

It said: “Our current line, if we are asked about using remote access to change data or branch transactions, is simply ‘this is not and has never been possible’.”

Ms van den Bogerd said she “must have overlooked” the email, adding: “If it had registered with me I would have questioned it” because she had received previous emails saying otherwise.

Beer asked why other Post Office executives had also not realized that remote access was possible, despite being included in email chains saying it was.

“Is it that everyone is missing out? Or is the primary objective to defend, very strongly, the position that there is no remote access?” he said.

Ms van den Bogerd said that “that was never my position” and that “I certainly wasn’t trying to cover up or repress or do anything like that, and that’s what I’m struggling with, because it wasn’t just me.” – there are other people participating in the same information at that moment.”

Earlier in her evidence to the inquiry, Ms van den Bogerd had said she was “truly sorry” for the “devastation” caused to the wrongly convicted subpostmasters and their families.

He also said, “I did nothing knowingly wrong and I would never knowingly do anything wrong.”

Ms van den Bogerd confirmed to Mr Beer that Fujitsu had not been “transparent” with her and the post office, and also agreed that executives had been trying to control the narrative by using the words “exception or anomaly”. to describe errors or defects in the Horizonte system.

Ms van den Bogerd held various roles throughout her 35-year career at the Post Office, rising to head of network services, head of partnerships, head of support services and head of people and change.