During Fujitsu’s recent financial report, Chief Financial Officer Isobe Takeshi addressed the issue of wrongfully convicted subpostmasters, a topic that has gained significant global media attention since the start of the year.
Speaking to the press, he stated: I wish to use this moment to comment on the UK Post Office Horizon System inquiry, which has been the subject of extensive media coverage worldwide.
Above all, I, on behalf of Fujitsu Group, extend our sincerest apologies to the affected subpostmasters and their families. We take this issue with the highest level of seriousness.
Our UK branch is actively participating in the comprehensive UK statutory inquiry, which is delving into the intricate events spanning several years. We are dedicated to continuing our full support and cooperation moving forward.
Furthermore, I want to assure you that our global board of directors is rigorously overseeing this issue, including our involvement in the ongoing inquiry.
We earnestly hope that the inquiry will lead to a prompt and fair resolution, bringing justice to those impacted.
Fujitsu has committed to providing ‘suitable compensation’ to subpostmasters affected by the Horizon IT controversy. The company’s executives announced their intention to determine a fair compensation amount for the subpostmasters who were unjustly accused, in light of the ongoing investigation into the scandal.
This announcement came after Fujitsu’s recent communication to members of parliament, confirming its plan to contribute to the compensation for Post Office subpostmasters. These individuals faced wrongful convictions due to glitches in the Horizon IT system, which falsely indicated financial discrepancies in their operations.
Isobe Takeshi, the Chief Financial Officer of Fujitsu, emphasized the company’s stance during the announcement of its latest financial results. He stated:
“In the UK, there’s a discussion about the possibility of offering compensation. However, we aim to establish a suitable compensation plan as the course of the inquiry becomes evident. This issue is of great importance to us, and we are keen on having the facts thoroughly examined through the statutory inquiry.”
