The Put up Workplace has spent £132m of taxpayer cash defending itself on the inquiry into the wrongful conviction of a whole lot of sub-postmasters, in line with the most recent obtainable figures.
The revelation within the firm’s annual report comes after the two-and-a-half years of proof hearings for the inquiry ended this week.
The determine covers the authorized and operating prices from its begin up till 31 March 2024, nevertheless it doesn’t embody cash spent after that date.
Put up Workplace chairman Nigel Railton mentioned that the Put up Workplace was “studying from the intense failings of the previous”.
Greater than 900 sub-postmasters have been prosecuted for shortfalls of their accounts brought on by bugs in Fujitsu’s Horizon IT system in what has been described as one of the widespread miscarriages in British authorized historical past.
Many misplaced their livelihoods or have been pressured to make up shortfalls from their very own cash, whereas some former sub-postmasters took their very own lives.
The inquiry got here after sub-postmasters fought for years to uncover the injustice.
The Put up Workplace’s figures for authorized prices associated to the inquiry don’t embody the cash it has spent paying compensation to wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters.
It additionally mentioned it had made provisions totalling £816m in “distinctive bills” for the yr to 31 March 2024, which incorporates the authorized and operating prices in addition to the cash to be spent on compensation and overturned convictions.
Nonetheless, regardless of the expense, some sub-postmasters say they haven’t but obtained any compensation, whereas others, comparable to Sir Alan Bates, argue what they’ve been provided shouldn’t be sufficient.
The outcomes present how authorized and operating prices jumped because the inquiry went on.
The Put up Workplace spent £82m within the 12 months to 31 March, £38m the earlier 12 months, and £12m within the yr previous to that.
The outcomes additionally present to what extent authorized prices and redress are weighing on its funds.
It confirmed that pre-tax losses widened to £612m -up from £81m the earlier yr – whereas its money owed have soared to greater than the worth of every little thing it owns.
The discharge of the numbers comes after two-and-a-half years of proof listening to periods drew to a detailed this week and closing statements have been submitted.
Commenting on the milestone, Mr Railton mentioned “there stays a lot to be taught and to embed into our organisation culturally as we transfer ahead.”
Its chief govt additionally mentioned on Thursday that the organisation expects the determine paid out in compensation to extend within the new yr because it continues “to quicken the tempo on funds”.
He added, nevertheless, that ”no quantity of economic redress can substitute what has been misplaced to victims”.
Nick Learn can even not obtain a bonus, having waived his rights to it when he resigned in September after months of scrutiny for the organisation.