Ex-Fujitsu boss 'shocked' by Post Office's actions
Former Fujitsu UK chief Roger Gilbert expressed his shock to the BBC over the Post Office's prosecution of sub-postmasters, discussing the issue only once during his 2009-2012 tenure.
He believed the Post Office was handling the cases with competence and integrity, underpinned by assurance from the Horizon team.
Despite the scandal's prominence, including a Computer Weekly investigation and a subsequent ITV drama highlighting the issue, Gilbert was largely unaware of the extent of the issue during his leadership. He noted the absence of widespread media coverage until around 2014.
As CEO and later chairman of Fujitsu UK and Ireland, Gilbert had limited interaction with the Horizon system, which represented a small fraction of Fujitsu's business.
Acknowledging Horizon's technical issues, he understood they were communicated to the Post Office for management. Although current UK boss Paul Patterson recognized Horizon's flaws from the start, Gilbert is not called to testify in the ongoing inquiry.
Gilbert emphasized the importance of corporate risk management to prevent unsafe prosecutions, extending this advice beyond Fujitsu to all businesses facing similar risks. His sympathies lie with those affected by the scandal.
Despite the scandal's prominence, including a Computer Weekly investigation and a subsequent ITV drama highlighting the issue, Gilbert was largely unaware of the extent of the issue during his leadership. He noted the absence of widespread media coverage until around 2014.
As CEO and later chairman of Fujitsu UK and Ireland, Gilbert had limited interaction with the Horizon system, which represented a small fraction of Fujitsu's business.
Acknowledging Horizon's technical issues, he understood they were communicated to the Post Office for management. Although current UK boss Paul Patterson recognized Horizon's flaws from the start, Gilbert is not called to testify in the ongoing inquiry.
Gilbert emphasized the importance of corporate risk management to prevent unsafe prosecutions, extending this advice beyond Fujitsu to all businesses facing similar risks. His sympathies lie with those affected by the scandal.
