‘Do you have any idea of the suffering you have caused?’: Ex-Post Office boss accused of ‘lying throughout’ at inquiry
A former top Post Office executive has denied lying “throughout” her two days of testimony at the inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal.
Angela van den Bogerd, who held various roles over 35 years at the organisation, told the hearing that while she did miss evidence of problems with the computer software at the time, it had not been “intentional”.
Her roles at the Post Office included handling complaints about the Horizon system, which was provided by Japanese firm Fujitsu.
More than 700 Post Office managers were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after the software made it seem like money was missing from branches. At the time, the company insisted Horizon was robust.
Edward Henry KC, representing some of those wrongly convicted, accused Ms van den Bogerd of telling a “blatant lie” in a September 2015 letter sent to former sub-postmaster Parmod Kalia.
Mr Kalia spent three months in prison after being falsely accused of stealing £22,000 from his London branch in 2001.
In the letter, the former executive said there was “no evidence of transactions recorded by branches being altered through remote access” – despite her receiving emails years earlier which highlighted the issue.
Edward Henry KC
Mr Henry said: “It’s a blatant lie, isn’t it?”
She replied: “That’s my understanding of what I’d been given at the time.”
As he questioned her further about what she knew and when, Mr Henry said: “You’re lying again today, as you have done throughout, I suggest.
“Do you have any idea of the suffering you have caused, the many lives that have been blighted, with you contributing to that pain and that cruelty? Do you have any idea?”
As it happened: Post Office inquiry latest
Ms van den Bogerd replied: “I appreciate the level of suffering that would inevitably happen as a result of prosecutions” but said she was never involved in prosecutions.
She added she had worked to understand whether there were any issues with the Horizon system.
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It came after Ms van den Bogerd, who was played by Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly in the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, said on Thursday that she was “truly, truly sorry” for the “devastation” caused to wrongly convicted sub-postmasters.
The former executive also said she never “knowingly” did anything wrong.
During Friday’s hearing, Ms van den Bogerd was also quizzed about the case of Martin Griffiths.
The former sub-postmaster had run his branch in Cheshire for 14 years before shortfalls appeared in 2009. He was accused of being responsible for shortfalls of up to £100,000 and was then blamed by Post Office officials for a robbery at his branch in March 2013.
Ms van den Bogerd said Mr Griffiths had been asked to pay a fine of 20% of the money taken during the raid – more than £7,000 – because it was believed he had not been “complying with certain procedures at the time”.
He died after stepping in front of traffic in September 2013. A coroner ruled he had taken his own life.
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From Thursday: Ex-Post Office boss denies ‘cover-up’
Counsel for the inquiry Jason Beer KC pressed Ms van den Bogerd on whether a subsequent offer of compensation to Mr Griffiths’ family was dependent on them dropping any legal action against the Post Office.
He also asked about a separate claim the family held against Second Sight – which produced a report detailing issues with the Horizon system.
Ms van den Bogerd said it was part of “the broader piece of the network transformation. It covered everything”.
Jason Beer KC
Mr Beer then appeared to lose patience with the witness.
He replied: “What does that mean? That’s just word soup… I asked you, Ms van den Bogerd – the payment was going to be conditional upon the family withdrawing the claim that they’d made under the mediation, wasn’t it?”
She answered: “Yes, because that’s the way the network transformation payment was set out.”
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In another exchange, Sam Stein KC, representing other scandal victims, described the former executive as being “Post Office through-and-through like a bad stick of rock”.
He referred to a 2019 court case in which a High Court judge said she had sought to “mislead” him during her evidence defending the Post Office.
Mr Stein described the comments as “pretty serious” and asked if the Post Office investigated her as a result. She said no.
He then asked: “Did you get your bonus that year, in 2019, Ms van den Bogerd?”
“Yes, I did,” she replied.
Mr Stein then asked: “So despite the finding in the High Court that basically you lied… you got your bonus?”
She responded: “Yes.”
The inquiry will continue next week with evidence from the Post Office’s former head of legal Hugh Flemington.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
Temperatures could hit highs of 26C this weekend, with Saturday in with a chance to be the hottest day of the year so far.
Forecasters say temperatures will build over the coming days before coming to a head over the weekend, with mostly clear conditions expected across England and Wales.
By Saturday, the Met Office indicates the south of England could see highs of up to 26C. So far, the hottest temperature recorded this year was in Santon Downham in Suffolk, which saw 23.4C last Thursday.
The forecaster said high pressure will push north throughout the week and bring more warmer and drier conditions after the bank holiday weekend washout.
Met Office meteorologist Amy Bokota said: “High pressure is forecast to dominate the UK for the rest of the week and into the weekend.
“High pressure brings dry and settled weather and with warm air sat over the UK this will give some pleasant warm temperatures. There is good confidence that high pressure will last until the weekend.
“Temperatures are expecting to build over the next few days, with a likely peak of Saturday.”
See the latest weather forecast where you are
Scotland and Northern Ireland are also set to enjoy warmer springtime weather, with 22C also forecast on Saturday in Glasgow.
Northern parts of the UK will still see cloudy skies, and patches of moving high pressure are “likely to cause periods of prolonged rainfall” in parts of Northern Ireland and the north of Scotland, Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said.
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The sunnier skies aren’t set to last long, however. In their long range outlook to 21 May, the Met Office said that Sunday will “likely be the last widely dry and fine day for a while, with warm sunshine for most”.
It added: “After Sunday, the weather is expected to switch back to become changeable across the country, with further spells of rain and showers expected.
“Rainfall amounts could be above average in most areas. It is also possible that rain will be heavy at times, and any showers could turn thundery. Temperatures are also expected to fall closer to average for May.”
The King is too busy to see Prince Harry during his visit to the UK, the duke’s spokesperson has said.
Harry is in London for an event celebrating 10 years of the Invictus Games.
It marks the first time the royal has been in the country since his rushed visit to see the King in February after the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
There had been press speculation that the pair would meet up again on his latest trip, but a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex has said the King is too busy to see his son.
“In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in
the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme,” the spokesperson said.
“The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
Prince Harry speaks at the event near the City of London. Pic: Getty Images for The Invictus Games Foundation
The King returned to public duties last week for the first time since his diagnosis for an unspecified form of cancer.
Buckingham Palace has said his diary will be carefully managed to minimise any risks to his health.
The palace has also said it would not comment on matters relating to Harry.
The monarch held an audience with the prime minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, at Buckingham Palace today as Harry was seen in the UK.
Pic: Getty Images for The Invictus Games Foundation
A Sky News camera captured Prince Harry arriving at an Invictus event in central London
Earlier, a Sky News camera captured Prince Harry arriving at the Honourable Artillery Company’s headquarters on the edge of the City of London for a one-day summit, called the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation.
The event is looking back over the decade-long history of the games which Harry founded in 2014 as a Paralympics-style sporting event for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
It is taking place ahead of a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the games.
The ceremony will be the first major event Harry has attended in Britain for some time.
King Charles during an audience with the prime minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, at Buckingham Palace today. Pic: PA
Harry hails legacy that ‘transcends sports’
Speaking in a foreword at the summit taking place today ahead of the St Paul’s service, Harry said: “It has been an honour to watch the Invictus Games Foundation grow over the years; what began as a vision to pay tribute to the courage and resilience of wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans, has flourished into an international organisation built on hope, strength, and unity.”
The duke also wrote: “We are eager to celebrate the Invictus Spirit once again – exemplified in every single competitor, staff, friend and family member – your commitment, enthusiasm and belief, have been the driving force behind our continued success.”
He added: “Together, we have created a legacy that transcends sports; a community that embraces compassion, respect, and the unyielding belief in the power of the human spirit. As we celebrate this milestone, let us recommit to the Invictus mission.”
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It is not known if any other members of the Royal Family will be in attendance at the ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday.
British actor Damian Lewis is set to recite the Invictus poem during the service.
Representatives from across the Invictus Games participating nations, including members of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veteran community, will also be in attendance.
Following his visit to Britain, Harry will be joined by his wife Meghan for a trip to Nigeria.
The Duke of Sussex served in the UK military himself for 10 years from 2005 and was deployed to Afghanistan on two occasions.
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From February: Prince Harry and Meghan visit training camp
Harry was inspired to found the Invictus Games after attending the Warrior Games in Colorado in 2013 and seeing how injured American military personnel thrived on the challenge of taking part in competitive sports that aided their recovery.
He went on to stage the inaugural games in London’s Olympic Park in 2014, followed by Orlando in 2016, Toronto in 2017 and Sydney 2018.
Harry has been living with Meghan in California since they quit their roles as senior working royals in March 2020.
The couple have two children together – Archie and Lilibet.
Harry has only visited the UK a few times since his decision to move to the US.
His latest trip comes after reports of a rift between himself and his brother William, the heir to the throne.
In a tell-all book published in January last year, Harry made several explosive claims about the royals – detailing fallouts with his family, including William.
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