Latest news with #RabThomson
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Fujitsu getting away ‘scot-free' from Horizon scandal, says postmaster
A Scottish postmaster who was wrongly convicted under the Horizon scandal says Fujitsu is getting away 'scot-free' from its role in the affair. Rab Thomson welcomed the first tranche of Sir Wyn Williams' final report, which was released in London on Tuesday. Mr Thomson spent around 20 years fighting to clear his name after being accused of theft. The 65-year-old, from Alva in Clackmannanshire, was one of the first to have his conviction overturned and was able to do so in advance of a special law being passed at the Scottish Parliament to exonerate Horizon victims. Mr Thomson's mother had worked at the Post Office for 30 years and the accusation of theft against him came a few years after he took over the business. He told the PA news agency: 'I feel quite emotional.. 'There's other stories in there worse than mine, don't get me wrong, but it's heartbreaking for it to come to this length – it's going to drag on to March next year.' He said he had been particularly emotional about the part of the report relating to himself and his mother. Mr Thomson said he and his mother did not speak for a year after the allegation of theft was made against him. He said his mother kept herself in her house following the allegation up until her death, saying: 'People were talking behind her back – 'her son stole from the Post Office'. 'But none of the people that accused me of stealing, some of them have not even come forward and apologised. 'So I don't know how they're feeling, maybe guilt I don't know.' Mr Thomson added: 'If I can get a victory over this, compensation-wise for people out there who haven't had a penny yet and get them as much as we possibly can, then hopefully my mum's up there and she'll be smiling on me.' He welcomed the report but had one caveat, saying: 'The only problem I see is, I don't know why we're not taking on Fujitsu? 'Why is Sir Wynn not taking on Fujitsu? Because at the end of the day it's them that's brought this crisis to us – at the moment they've got away scot-free.' In April, Mr Thomson and others launched the Scottish Postmasters for Justice and Redress (SPJR) group. He has encouraged other Scots affected by the issue to seek redress. Fujitsu has already acknowledged it has a 'moral obligation' to contribute to compensation for those affected by the scandal, pending the outcome of Sir Wyn Williams' inquiry. Commenting on the report, SNP MP Chris Law said: ' Westminster is still dragging its heels in delivering fair compensation and it is essential that the Labour government immediately removes every bureaucratic barrier and blockade so that these victims finally get the justice they so badly need. 'The starkness of this report lays bare the tragedies, and even the loss of life, that came about as a direct result of this scandal. 'After decades of failures and cover-ups by successive Westminster governments, Fujitsu and the Post Office, hundreds of people who worked hard for local communities have been made to fight far too long for justice – there must be no more delays from this UK Labour government.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fujitsu getting away ‘scot-free' from Horizon scandal, says postmaster
A Scottish postmaster who was wrongly convicted under the Horizon scandal says Fujitsu is getting away 'scot-free' from its role in the affair. Rab Thomson welcomed the first tranche of Sir Wyn Williams' final report, which was released in London on Tuesday. Mr Thomson spent around 20 years fighting to clear his name after being accused of theft. The 65-year-old, from Alva in Clackmannanshire, was one of the first to have his conviction overturned and was able to do so in advance of a special law being passed at the Scottish Parliament to exonerate Horizon victims. Mr Thomson's mother had worked at the Post Office for 30 years and the accusation of theft against him came a few years after he took over the business. He told the PA news agency: 'I feel quite emotional.. 'There's other stories in there worse than mine, don't get me wrong, but it's heartbreaking for it to come to this length – it's going to drag on to March next year.' He said he had been particularly emotional about the part of the report relating to himself and his mother. Mr Thomson said he and his mother did not speak for a year after the allegation of theft was made against him. He said his mother kept herself in her house following the allegation up until her death, saying: 'People were talking behind her back – 'her son stole from the Post Office'. 'But none of the people that accused me of stealing, some of them have not even come forward and apologised. 'So I don't know how they're feeling, maybe guilt I don't know.' Mr Thomson added: 'If I can get a victory over this, compensation-wise for people out there who haven't had a penny yet and get them as much as we possibly can, then hopefully my mum's up there and she'll be smiling on me.' He welcomed the report but had one caveat, saying: 'The only problem I see is, I don't know why we're not taking on Fujitsu? 'Why is Sir Wynn not taking on Fujitsu? Because at the end of the day it's them that's brought this crisis to us – at the moment they've got away scot-free.' In April, Mr Thomson and others launched the Scottish Postmasters for Justice and Redress (SPJR) group. He has encouraged other Scots affected by the issue to seek redress. Fujitsu has already acknowledged it has a 'moral obligation' to contribute to compensation for those affected by the scandal, pending the outcome of Sir Wyn Williams' inquiry. Commenting on the report, SNP MP Chris Law said: 'Westminster is still dragging its heels in delivering fair compensation and it is essential that the Labour government immediately removes every bureaucratic barrier and blockade so that these victims finally get the justice they so badly need. 'The starkness of this report lays bare the tragedies, and even the loss of life, that came about as a direct result of this scandal. 'After decades of failures and cover-ups by successive Westminster governments, Fujitsu and the Post Office, hundreds of people who worked hard for local communities have been made to fight far too long for justice – there must be no more delays from this UK Labour government.'
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
Scottish dad who killed his own children in 'revenge plot' against wife denied parole
Killer Rab Thomson, who killed his own to children in their family home after his marriage broke down, has been denied parole. The sick dad stabbed his disabled daughter Michelle, who was 25-years-old at the time, and his seven-year-old son Ryan, to death. The 67-year-old was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the crimes, which he committed in 2008. His former wife, June, plead with the parole board to deny him his freedom. Her calls were echoed by others in the community, with MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife Richard Baker now confirming he has not been given parole after writing to the authorities. READ MORE: Ryanair flight 'utter chaos' as passengers 'jump off wing' with 18 people injured READ MORE: Edinburgh man was 'spending £400 a month on takeaways' before going on Mounjaro He said: "Rab Thomson, who killed his son, seven, and disabled daughter in Buckhaven in 2008, has been denied parole. "My wife, Claire Baker MSP and I, who wrote to the board seeking this outcome, welcome the decision. I'm sure many people in Levenmouth will feel the same." Thomson is believed to have murdered his children out of cruel revenge on his estranged wife June who left him after 27-years of beatings and rape. In his first official access visit, after June finally plucked up the courage to leave him, he stabbed Ryan 14 times as the little boy played a computer game at the family home in Buckhaven, Fife, on May 3, 2008. He then turned the knife on Michelle, stabbing her 12 times as she fought for her life, leaving her bedroom like a bloodbath. After murdering his children, Thomson placed each child in bed and posed their bodies like little angels for his wife to find. Detective Inspector Graham Fenton, one of the detectives in charge of the investigation, said the killer traumatised his family for years. He previously said: "June had been the victim of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "None of this was reported to the police, however many victims of domestic violence often suffer in silence." He added: "When Thomson came into our custody, he was very matter of fact. "He showed no remorse. In fact, he never asked for his children once. At one stage during the interview, he even refused to sit on the chair in the room. He actually lay on the floor. It appeared to me that this was Thomson trying to exert control over a situation that wasn't his." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Last year, a documentary called Britain's Darkest Taboos, that covered the murders showed how Thomson exerted control over his terrified family. Dr Keri Nixon, a leading criminologist told if how Thomson cracked because his image as the perfect family man was destroyed by his split from his wife June. In film, taken at Christmas 2002 when youngest victim Ryan was not yet two, Thomson's wife June, 54, is heard begging her husband to stop filming but he persists. Dr Nixon said: "He wanted to present a perfect life to the outside world. "He liked to be respected, he liked to be admired. His wife leaving him was not part of that image. Because he was losing everything, his way of dealing with it was to destroy it."
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'We're giving Horizon compensation claims kick up the backside'
A former sub-postmaster wrongly convicted of embezzlement has launched a support group to speed up compensation payments for victims of the Post Office scandal. Rab Thomson said he wanted to give those issuing redress to affected people in Scotland a "kick up the backside". More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after the faulty Horizon IT accounting system, designed by Fujitsu, made it look like money was missing from branch accounts. Mr Thomson, who had his 2006 conviction quashed last year, said he hoped the Scottish Postmasters for Justice and Redress Group would allow those pursuing compensation in Scotland to access legal help. He said the group would also offer medical support for those who have developed mental health issues. The Horizon scandal has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in modern times. Former postmaster's joy after conviction quashed 'Post Office compensation wait is taking its toll' Mr Thomson, from Alva, took over the Post Office in Cambus, near Alloa in Clackmannanshire, from his mother Margaret in 1999. In 2004, he was prosecuted after an audit found a shortfall of about £5,700 and sentenced to 180 hours community service. His mother died before he was able to officially clear his name. Mr Thomson said the group, launched alongside the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters (NSFP) and former MP Marion Fellows, would help those seeking financial redress through the complicated legal system in place in Scotland. He said: "No matter how much money you are going to get, it will not bring back my mother or people who took their own lives. "What we're looking for is people to be happy again and forget what happened in the past, because we went through complete torture and there's no one in Scotland that we could turn to at any time and ask for advice. "So hopefully, we're doing the right thing and we move on from there and I would feel really appreciated if people come forward and speak to me." Legislation exonerating wrongly-convicted victims in Scotland came into force last year. The Scottish government identified 141 potential cases after the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill became law in June 2024. A total of 96 were assessed as being affected by Horizon. By February 2025, 64 sub-postmasters had their convictions quashed, while 11 cases are still being assessed. The Scottish government oversees legal ramifications such as quashing convictions for victims. However, financial compensation is handled by the UK government through the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS). About £768m has been paid out to 5,100 claimants across the UK, from a potential 9,800. Mr Thomson said Scotland lagged behind England and Wales when it came to issuing compensation payments. He said: "I know there is a lot of elderly people out there from Scotland who are frightened to come forward. "What we are trying to do is get the redress to the people who are entitled to it. "Because it has taken so long in getting the money to the people, we want to kick them up the backside and get this moving quicker." The case was brought back into the public arena by an ITV drama that followed the scandal being uncovered. It charted the work of campaigner Alan Bates, who has fought for wrongly accused sub-postmasters for decades. Calum Greenhow, chief executive of the NSFP, said there were more victims who were yet to come forward. He said he was still receiving phone calls from those who have been affected by the scandal "every day" and added there could be further victims who were impacted by previous Post Office systems called Capture and Ecco+. Mr Greenhow, a former postmaster of 29 years, said the group would allow those in Scotland to access local solicitors. He said: "These are individuals who have been so badly let down in so many different ways that their confidence and their trust in the authorities has been detrimentally damaged. "Scotland has a different legal system to England and Wales and we need to make sure that everyone within Scotland is dealt with properly and fairly and they also have somewhere local to come to get that help and support and get their names restored and any redress required."
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Post Office scandal victim sets up Scottish support group
A FORMER sub-postmaster and victim of the Horizon scandal has set up a new support group for Scottish postmasters. Rab Thomson, from Clackmannanshire, is set to launch the Scottish Postmasters for Justice and Redress (SPJR) group in Holyrood on Wednesday. Thomson, who had his conviction overturned in January 2024, now wants to help others in Scotland to get the same outcome. READ MORE: Anti-abortion group active in Scotland receives over £1 million in US funding The group aims to support victims of the Horizon scandal and encourage them to apply for redress, even if they were not convicted. Due to the different legal system in Scotland, Thomson believes a peer support group is needed. He said: 'I am the first postmaster in Scotland to get my conviction overturned by the courts. 'I felt I needed to do something to get other postmasters to come forward. 'Scotland are the sleeping dogs in this case and many victims are unaware of how they can be exonerated or what redress options are available to them. This is why we have set up this group.' He continued: 'We want as many of our ex-colleagues to come forward and attend the launch so they will receive redress, which they are all entitled to, having suffered through the biggest miscarriage of justice in our time.' The group estimates that around 140 people in Scotland were prosecuted due to issues with the Horizon IT system. They argue that many affected by the scandal are reluctant to engage with Post Office Limited, meaning they do not receive the compensation that they deserve. In May last year, MSPs passed a law which exonerated Scots wrongly convicted by the scandal. The law is intended to allow Scottish postmasters to access a UK compensation scheme. Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance (below) said this legislation has so far led to 64 convictions being identified as quashed. She said: 'I am pleased the legislation the Scottish Government brought forward last year has now resulted in 64 people having their convictions identified as quashed and therefore access to redress from the UK Government as a result. 'The Scottish Government continues to encourage anyone who considers they suffered an injustice to come forward. READ MORE: Are Scottish secondary schools showing Netflix's Adolescence? 'There is no time limit under the legislation and the Scottish Government will always look into any cases where people give their name as a possible miscarriage of justice case.' The group has also received support from former Motherwell and Wishaw MP Marion Fellows. The Post Office scandal refers to sub-postmasters who were wrongly convicted of offences such as fraud due to faulty Horizon software.
