Tag: Public relations spin campaign
Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry Charade: The Continuous Lies, Deception, Manipulation, Concoctions & Contradictions Of Thief & Fraudster Seema Misra (Part 44)
Seema Misra was quoted in a January 2024 BBC article headed Post Office scandal: The ordinary lives devastated by a faulty IT system here by Michael Race and Lora Jones.
Fraudster Seema Misra had stated;
They say they have so many other post offices who are doing fine, ‘it’s you having an issue’.
Seema Misra via the BBC dated 17th January 2024 here
Seema Misra did not make this allegation during her October 2010 trial.
It wasnβt until her evidence during the post office Horizon IT inquiry in 2022 that she made this allegation, in relation to one person – her area manager Elaine Ridge.
Elaine Ridge had formally suspended Seema Misra on 12th March 2008.
On 25th February 2022 during the inquiry, Seema Misra alleged that Elaine Ridge had told her during her interview βItβs just your post office weβre having issues withβ.
During her trial, prosecutor Warwick Tatford asked Seema Misra about her disciplinary interview;
Did you in that interview at any stage say you were not competent to run the post office?
Prosecutor Warwick Tatford – Monday 18th October 2010 – from page 117E of trial transcripts here
Referring to April 2006, which was less than 10 months after she took over the West Byfleet post office, she told the jury;
I did to Elaine.
I said like as of mid April I just a bit lost the interest and all I doing, I didnβt do the balance properly.
I was just doing a snapshot and just putting the figures in
Seema Misra – Monday 18th October 2010 – from page 117F of trial transcripts here
Fraudster Seema Misra now contradicts her own evidence at trial and comes out with concocted statements like;
I used to be on the floor until the early hours of the morning trying to find out what went wrong, but [I] couldn’t find
Seema Misra via the BBC dated 17th January 2024 here
Yet Seema Misra told the jury during her 2010 trial;
I didnβt do any checks to check the actual cash and all that.
All I was doing print out a snapshot and entering into the system
Seema Misra – Monday 18th October 2010 – from page 73A of trial transcripts here
She also told the jury;
Well, I basically stopped doing a proper, proper check like counting and entering it as of mid 2006.
All I was doing to get this natural figure, checking the amount it should have been there and that is it entering
Seema Misra – Monday 18th October 2010 – from page 90E of trial transcripts here
She reiterated this stating;
I didnβt do any balancing as of mid 2006.
I didnβt do a proper balancing
Seema Misra – Monday 18th October 2010 – from page 90E of trial transcripts page here
The Devils Own: What The Public Didnβt Know About The Garden Fires At The Time Of Sadistic Murderer Luke Mitchell & His Mother Corinneβs Sky Interview (Part 322)
14th August 2003 ~ βYes, I can verify that my mother and my brother had a fireβ
During his section 14 interview on 14th August 2003, sadistic murderer Luke Mitchell told the police his mother Corinne and his brother Shane Mitchell had a fire in their garden on the evening he committed his murder.
Below are extracts from Sgt George Thomsonβs trial testimony;
- Alan Turnbull: Right. And he was asked whether the log burner and his back garden was lit that night, thatβs Monday the 30th?
- Sgt George Thomson: Yes
- Alan Turnbull: And what was his answer to that?
- Sgt George Thomson: βYes, I can verify that my mother and my brother had a fireβ
- Alan Turnbull: Right. So he says that his mother and his brother had a fire that night?
3rd September 2003
Less than 3 weeks later the murderer gave a Sky News interview to James Matthews, on the very day that Jodi Jones was laid to rest, pretending he knew nothing about his fires.
Below are excerpts from the Sky interview;
- James Matthews: This burning of clothes keeps getting mentioned and there is also the subject of a missing knife, is that your missing knife?
- Murderer Luke Mitchell: No. The burning clothes that wasnβt us. They just stated that a female relative of the suspect admitted to burning clothes
- James Matthews: Was that you or anyone connected to you?
- Murderer Luke Mitchell: No, not that we know of
Killer Luke Mitchell: An Example Of The Murderers Cultists Who Choose To Use The Victims Name Irreverently (Part 320)
The following irreverence was published on 11th February 2024;
What Is a Cult? 10 Warning Signs
A cult is an organized group whose purpose is to dominate cult members through psychological manipulation and pressure strategies.
Cults are usually headed by a powerful leader who isolates members from the rest of society.
Some individuals who join cults remain lifelong members.
Others break free and share how it felt to be brainwashed by a charismatic leader.
Excerpts by Amy Morin article headed What Is a Cult? 10 Warning Signs dated 13th November 2023
Sadistic murderers like Luke Mitchell, and his toxic enablers, use psychological manipulation and pressure strategies.
Why Do People Join Cults?
According to a November 2022 article here;
People join cult movements for various reasons, most of which revolve around a desire for meaning and community.
Many who become part of such organizations have troubled backgrounds and difficulty fitting into society.
They might also feel mainstream culture has no place for them and nothing of spiritual value to offer either.
Former cult members often describe the long-lasting sense of loneliness and nihilism they felt prior to becoming part of something bigger than themselves.
Excerpts from What Is a Cult? 4 Types of Cults and Common Characteristics dated 10th November 2022
Link to Part 321 here
Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry Charade: Why Didnβt Jason Beer Display ALL Of Anne Chambers 27th February 2006 Note Regarding Thief & Fraudster Seema Misra & Her West Byfleet Branch? #Fujitsu (Part 38)
The only calls Seema Misra appears to have made to the Horizon helpline number, during her entire time at the West Byfleet post office, regarding monies was between 20th and 23rd February 2006.
On 27th February 2006 Anne Chambers from Fujitsu investigated and made the following notes;
I have checked very carefully and can see no indication that the continuing discrepancies are due to a system problem.
I have not been able to pin down discrepancies for individual days or stock units because the branch does not seem to be operating in a particularly organised manner.
In particular I have noted
1. There are 6 stock units in this 3 counter branch, which seems a bit excessive.
2. The loss in euros in TP9 appears genuine – the declared quantity was 4000 fewer than the system expected.
It is not clear from the information above whether anyone found out why this happened (there were several rem outs, and a rem in, on 23rd Dec – did the pouches contain the declared number of euros?).
3. Stock is sometimes transferred out of a stock unit where it is not held.
In particular there were several transfers out of stock unit SM1 in TP10.
At the end of the period the stock figures were corrected back up to zero via adjust stock. This
gave a gain of over Β£2000 in SM1.
Equivalent negative stock adjust in AA gave a corresponding loss in AA.
4. I am not confident that the stock declarations are always correct eg. at the.β¦
Excerpts from Anne Chambers 27th February 2006 note (Source at around 1:50:22 here)
Below is a screenshot of what the inquiry chose to display;
Where is the rest of Anne Chambers note and what else did she note about Seema Misraβs West Byfleet Branch?
And why did Jason Beer, and the inquiry, choose to hide the rest of Anne Chambers note?
Seema Misraβs evidence in chief was that from mid April 2006 βI basically stopped doing a proper, proper check like counting and entering it as of mid 2006. All I was doing to get this natural figure, checking the amount it should have been there and that is it enteringβ (p.90 here).
Seema reiterated this to the jury and stated βI didnβt do any balancing as of mid 2006. I didnβt do a proper balancingβ (p.99 here).
Referring to area manager Elaine Ridge, Seema Misra told the jury βI said like as of mid April I just a bit lost the interest and all I doing, I didnβt do the balance properly. I was just doing a snapshot and just putting the figures inβ (p.117 here).
However Anne Chambers 27th February 2006 note suggests Seema Misra was not completing legitimate stock declarations before April 2006 ie; she was false accounting well before April 2006.
Referring to around this time period, chief enabler Nick Wallis chose to attempt to re-write history via his The Great Post Office Scandal book stating βThe Misras redoubled their efforts. In his first phone call to me, Davinder Misra tearfully related the nights of mounting panic he and Seema experienced, printing off the dayβs transactions on Horizonβs crappy till roll, staying up to βone β¦ two in the morningβ, going through the lengths of paper line by line, desperately trying to find some clue as to what might be causing them to lose so much moneyβ.
Tap on button below to read Part 34a of this blog series, regarding grave concerns of Jason Beerβd legal and professional commitments to the inquiry;
Link to Part 39 here
Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry Charade: Thief & Fraudster Seema Misra Chose To Lie To The Jury & Intentionally Conflate Michael Opebiyiβs 1st Week In The Branch With His Return To The Branch Weeks Later (Part 34)
18th October 2010 ~ Lies & Concoctions During Trial
On 18th October 2010 during her evidence in chief, Seema Misra attempted to dupe the jury by allegeding there had been βshortfallsβ in her West Byfleet post office branch, at the end of her very first and second weeks balancing – in front of both her βonsiteβ trainers Junaid and Michael.
She had been given the keys to the post office on 29th June 2005.
Seema Misraβs evidence was that trainer Janaid arrived at her branch on Thursday 30th June, and stayed for one week, until balancing on Wednesday 6th July 2005.
Her evidence during trial regarding the weekly balance was an alleged βΒ£150β figure at the end of her first week trading with Junaid, and an alleged βΒ£400 shortfallβ figure, at the end of her second week with Michael Opebiyi.
She lied to the jury and said that trainer Michael Opebiyi had βmade a phone call from office, I donβt know whereβ, and that she did not hear from Michael again after Wednesday 13th July 2005.
There were no telephone calls to the horizon helpline during Seema Misraβs two week βonsiteβ training, between 30th June and 13th July 2005, with regards any βΒ£400 shortfallβ.
Defence lawyer Keith Hadrill asked Seema Misra about her second week in the branch, which began on Thursday 7th July 2005. Below are copies of extracts from trial transcripts regarding this (p.51 here);
- Keith Hadrill: So the week goes by. Did you know what the transaction errors were or did you receive anything personally? The second week, the same trainer or a different trainer?
- Seema Misra: No. This was Michael came in
- Keith Hadrill: Was that from a Thursday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Thursday?
- Seema Misra: (inaudible) Thursday
- Keith Hadrill: What happened whilst Michael was there? Did he also sit behind and watch what you were doing?
- Seema Misra: Yeah. He was sitting behind me, but I mentioned to him β as he come in βhow is it going?β I said βnot good. I am having to put money in every day to the post officeβ. He was more concerned than Junaid. He said βthat should not be happening. Let us see how it goesβ.
- Keith Hadrill: Did it get any better?
- Seema Misra: No: I have to again put money in every day and then when balancing with Michael it came round about Β£400 short
- Keith Hadrill: At the end of the week?
- Seema Misra: End of β yeah, end of the balancing Wednesday. That is my first balance βsecond balancing in office, first with Michael
- Keith Hadrill: So the first day with Michael on the second week?
- Seema Misra: That is right β no β yeah. That is right
- Keith Hadrill: It is Β£400 short?
- Seema Misra: No, no, no. That is on the second balancing Β£400 short
- Keith Hadrill: So that is the end of the second week?
- Seema Misra: End of second week
- Keith Hadrill: Did you get any error corrections there?
- Seema Misra: No. Michael said βit is a bit unusual. I know you have been doing the transaction correctlyβ. Then I remember him staying behind and he made a phone call from office, I donβt know where, but he said he had been observing. We are doing the transaction correctly. He canβt understand β and they have been putting the money in every day to balance the till and he canβt understand why the Β£400 shortfall is
- Keith Hadrill: Right. So that gets to the end of the week. Did you get any more training?
- Seema Misra: Not after Michael, no, but he said he will look into it
- Keith Hadrill: Was that the last you heard of him?
- Seema Misra: That is right
During his cross examination, prosecutor Warwick Tatford referred to Seema Misraβs memory with respect to trainers Janaid and Michael, and their time at her branch during her first two weeks trading.
Seema Misra agreed with Warwick Tatford that she had a βclearβ memory of these events. Below are copies of further extracts from transcripts (p.114 here);
- Warwick Tatford: Right. I see. You have a clear memory as I understand of what happened between you and Junaid and Michael in 2005 when losses were occurring from the very beginning?
- Seema Misra: Yeah
- Warwick Tatford: And that is an important part of your defence, isnβt it?
- Seema Misra: I donβt understand that. Yeah
- Warwick Tatford: You are saying that the losses may be down to some kind of computer error, are you not, or are you not saying that?
- Seema Misra: Yeah. We are saying that, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: Right, or they are down to your incompetence?
- Seema Misra: Yes
- Warwick Tatford: Or they are down to theft?
- Seema Misra: Yes
- Warwick Tatford: Do you accept it cannot all be down to theft?
- Seema Misra: I donβt know. It is just I know the losses are there
- Warwick Tatford: Let us just examine it. Β£89,000 loss when you dismiss the thieves. The thieves have gone. The losses continue. So the losses that continue cannot be down to the thieves because you have sacked them?
- Seema Misra: That is right, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: So theft alone by your employees does not explain the loss, does it?
- Seema Misra: Okay
- Warwick Tatford: So it must be down to one or both of two matters, either computer error or your incompetence?
- Seema Misra: Yeah
- Warwick Tatford: Right. So your potential incompetence or the issue of your competence and the issue of computer error are important parts of your defence?
- Seema Misra: Okay
- Warwick Tatford: You are saying as I understand it βI knew from day one there was a problem with the system because I was suffering these losses.β Yes
- Seema Misra: I knew from the day one that we were losing money
- Warwick Tatford: Yes, and day one in what would have been rather difficult for your employees to steal from you on day one with Junaid there, would it not?
- Seema Misra: Yeah, when I look back, yes
- Warwick Tatford: Yes. So from day one you were suffering losses which you could not explain and you now put those down to either failings on your part, a lack of competence, or some sort of computer problem. Do I have it correct?
- Seema Misra: Sorry, say that again
- Warwick Tatford: You are saying you think there was a problem with the computer. Is that right?
- Seema Misra: That is right, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: You are saying you are worried that you were not up to running the system, that you were lost?
- Seema Misra: That is right, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: When you were interviewed by the Post Office on 14th January just after the audit those are matters you knew, were they not? You knew on day one that there were losses, that Junaid had found losses. You knew that Michael had had losses that he could not explain. Those are matters fresher in your memory than they are now because you were being interviewed in 2008. Yes?
- Seema Misra: That is right, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: So why didnβt you say anything to the Post Office investigators in interview about what happened with Junaid and Michael?
- Seema Misra: I got answered the question what they asked for. I did mention in Elaine Ridgeβs interview that it was because staff was blaming might be a system error
Seema Misra lied to the jury and chose to intentionally conflate Michael Opebiyiβs first week in the branch, between Thursday 7th July to Wednesday 13th July 2005, with his return to the branch, several weeks later.
During her evidence in chief Seema Misra had stated βThen I remember a guy came in, somebody from Network somethingβ (p.57h here).
Almost a month after Seema Misra began trading, on 25th July 2005 a request was received relating to her branch for βad hocβ training to be carried out regarding βbalancing procedureβ.
Following the 25th July request, trainer Michael Opebiyi was allocated to return to her branch on Wednesday 27th July, and again on Wednesday 3rd August 2005.
These were only one day assignments.
Referring to trainer Michaelβs last day of week two of her time as sub-postmistress of the West Byfleet post officer (13th July 2005), Keith Hadrill had asked Seema Misra βWas that the last you heard of him?β.
To which she lied and stated βThat is rightβ.
Keith Hadrill also asked Seema Misra βDid you get any more training?β to which she had stated βNot after Michael, noβ.
This was a lie by concealment.
Michael Opebiyi had returned to her branch almost a month after she had last seen him, but Seema Misra chose to withhold this information from the jury.
She also chose to lie about the βΒ£400 shortfallβ figure, which was not known about until August 2005.
The βguyβ referred to by Seema βfrom Network somethingβ was intervention manager Alan Ridoutt.
Alan Ridoutt made a record of his dealings with Seema Misra, as well as the βΒ£400 shortfallβ figure.
The following are copies of some of Alan Ridouttβs βvisits logβ;
This branch was visited on 10, 17 and 27 August 2005 regarding balancing issues
I have spent many hours sorting out balancing issues and helping with the stock setup as well as arranging ad hoc training
This branch is currently holding a loss of Β£466.73 and an over of Β£96.80
That was put into the suspense account by the trainer βMichaelβ
Who told the [subpostmaster] that a voucher would be issued to clear it
I have spoken to Michael who confirmed that he did this
I have warned the [subpostmaster] that unless an error comes back they could be liable
Copies of intervention manager Alan Ridouttβs notes
25th February 2022 ~ Lies & Concoctions During Public Inquiry
The aim of the public post office horizon IT inquiry should not βonly be to establish the truth β what happened, why, and where accountability may lie β but also to alleviate public concern and restore confidence.
It should βprovide an independent account of the facts and a mechanism for recommendations so that a reoccurrence of such events does not happen.
Is lawyer Jason Beer, counsel to the inquiry, a post conviction activist or an independent inquirer?
On 25th February 2022 Seema Misra chose to lie to the inquiry about trainer Michael Opebiyi, and she literally attempted to re-write history – enabled by Jason Beer.
Below is an extract from inquiry transcripts where Jason Beer chose to go along with Seema Misraβs lies and concoctions regarding trainer Michael, which is surely in breach of his legal and professional commitments to the inquiry – and to the rule of law (p.44 & 45 here).
- Jason Beer: Did there come a time when the trainer rang the helpline
- Seema Misra: Yes. So the first week trainer, he was.. he was there but, like when the shortfalls were there and everything he said βOh, and on Wednesday when you do rollover, it will balance upβ. And on Wednesday when I do rollover, I have to put again money from the shop counter and he was just gone, nothing.. nothing said. But then when the next trainer came, Michael, the second week, and he asked me βCongratulations, how is it going and everything?β. I said.. you know, I told him what had been happening from the first day until the balancing. He was concerned. He said βLetβs see how it goesβ. He was there like Junaid but, he was paying more attention to each and every transaction we do and on Wednesday he was there with the balancing and all that, and there was a shortfall. It was in hundreds.. I think a couple of hundred pounds. He called the helpline said he had been here whole week watching each and every transaction, me doing it correctly, but still thereβs a shortfall. So the helpline asked him to do some procedure on the system and the figure doubled up
- Jason Beer: Just tell us that bit again. He was getting some instructions down the phoneline from the helpline?
- Seema Misra: Correct
- Jason Beer: They said to do something with the system?
- Seema Misra: Correct
- Jason Beer: And that caused the shortfall to double?
- Seema Misra: Double
- Jason Beer: So what happened with the doubled shortfall?
- Seema Misra: Nothing. He said, like, you know βJust keep an eyeβ. I canβt remember exactly how was it dealt with but he said βKeep an eye, if thereβs any issues thereβs a helpline number, call them upβ. But he was shocked. He said βI canβtβ – I ask him can he stay over another week or something. He said he canβt, heβs supposed to here (sic) for one week only
Why did Jason Beer choose to enable Seema Misraβs lies?
She was referring to events which occurred around a month after she began trading, when a voucher was issued to βclearβ the βΒ£400 shortfallβ figure.
Seema Misraβs allegations that figures βdoubledβ was, and still is, yet another blatant concoction.
At no time during her evidence at trial did Seema Misra give any indication that any figures had βdoubledβ.
Link to Part 35 here
How Many Alleged βIllegal Immigrantsβ Did Thief & Fraudster Seema Misra & Her Bully Of A Husband Davinder Misra Exploit At The Former West Byfleet Post Office? (Part 36)
Jonathan Longman, the post office investigator, assigned to Seema Misraβs case contacted Surrey police regarding crime reports.
He established that on 8th April 2006 Davinder Misra, Seema Misraβs husband, had contacted the police to report former employee Nadia Badiwalia for allegedly being βan illegal immigrantβ.
Jonathan Longman told the jury in October 2010 βThe report says that this female, Nadia, is suspected of being an illegal immigrant and that she is causing a nuisance at the post office, that she is in the office shouting and screamingβ (p.9 here).
However when the police attended the post office, it turned out to be a waste of time.
Nadia had never been in the post office, she was allegedly on the telephone and it was seemingly Seema Misra who was βshouting and screamingβ.
The Misraβs were given the telephone number for βcustomsβ, however it is not known what the outcome of these allegations were.
Link to Part 37 here
Are The Metropolitan Police Service & All Those Involved In Operation Olympus Aware Of The Very Real Innocence Fraud Phenomenon, Which Thief & Fraudster Seema Misra & Her Appeal & Public Relations Spin Campaign Appears To Be (Part 35)
On 20th January 2020, the Metropolitan police service (MPS) received a letter from judge Peter Fraser via the crown prosecution service (CPS).
βThe letter concerned high court proceedings relating to Bates and others v Post Office Ltd which concluded in December 2019β.
Judge Fraserβs 14th January 2020 letter to Max Hill, then director of public prosecutions, can be read in full here
Under the header Prosecution of Mrs Misra, Judge Fraser stated in part;
Mrs Misra was a SPM at West Byfleet in Surrey who was charged both with theft from her branch, and also false accounting. The sums in question in her case which formed the subject matter of the charges amounted to approximately Β£74,000. Mrs Misra pleaded not guilty, and her defence was that the Horizon system was to blame.
Excerpt from Mr justice Fraserβs 14th January 2020 letter to Max Hill
Seema Misra pleaded guilty to false accounting and her defence was initially that her former employees had stolen βΒ£89,000β to βΒ£90,000β in/around November-December 2006.
Her defence regarding Horizon only came about after she apparently read a Computer Weekly article the night before her trial was due to begin on 2nd June 2009.
To date (13th February 2024) Seema Misra has not retracted her false allegations against her former employees.
The contents of judge Fraserβs letter was βsubsequently assessed and a criminal investigation was opened by the MPSβ.
The police investigation into alleged criminal activity at Fujitsu and the Post Office has been named Operation Olympus.
The MPS state here;
The MPS will not be providing a running commentary on the criminal investigation which remains ongoing, but can confirm we are aware of the Criminal Case Review Commissionβs referral to the Court of Appeal and subsequent proceedings.
It can be confirmed that a man and woman, both in their 60s have been interviewed under caution earlier in September and October. No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.To confirm the Met does not identify any person who may, or may not be, subject to an investigation. Being given this statement is not a confirmation of any name or profession media may attribute, or wish to attribute. It is given on the basis of being requested for information on the incident, on the date stated and at the location stated. Should media attribute a name or profession to the victim or the person under investigation this will not have been confirmed by the Met.
The MPS continues to be an interested party in the public enquiry and will be supporting the inquiry.
Hornswoggler Nick Wallis stated in his 18th November 2020 blog here
Although Mr Justice Fraser didn’t name Anne Chambers or Gareth Jenkins at the time, he did in his confidential letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, dated 14 January 2020. We know this because it is in the appendix of the CCRC’s Statement of Reasons, circulated to journalists today. In his letter, Mr Justice Fraser sets out what Mr Jenkins and Ms Chambers knew and concludes:
“in order to give fully truthful evidence to the court… namely the prosecution of Mrs Misra and the civil claim against Mr [Lee] Castleton, both Mr Jenkins and Mrs Chambers respectively should have told the court of the widespread impact of (at the very least) the bugs, errors and defects in Horizon that they knew about at the time that they gave their evidence.”
This letter was sent by the DPP to the Metropolitan Police, who immediately started investigating. Last week, Computer Weekly was told the Met had turned their ten month investigation into a criminal investigation. Today we have discovered the names of at least two of the individuals involved.
After some discussion, Lord Justice Holroyde decided there was no need for any need for any reporting restrictions to be imposed on the Court of Appeal proceedings in the light of the Met’s criminal investigation, but reminded the media of the “general need on their part to avoid reporting anything which may prejudice the ongoing investigation or any charges which may flow from it.”
Excerpts by Nick Wallis – Fujitsu staff under criminal investigation named dated 18th November 2020
Link to Part 36 here
Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry Charade: Grave Concerns Regarding Jason Beer & His Legal & Professional Commitments To The Inquiry & The Rule Of Law & Thief & Fraudster Seema Misra & Her Guile (Part 34)
18th October 2010 ~ Lies & Concoctions During Trial
On 18th October 2010 during her evidence in chief, Seema Misra attempted to dupe the jury by allegeding there had been βshortfallsβ in her West Byfleet post office branch, at the end of her very first and second weeks balancing – in front of both her onsite trainers Junaid and Michael Opebiyi.
She had been given the keys to the post office on 29th June 2005.
Seema Misraβs evidence was that trainer Janaid arrived at her branch on Thursday 30th June, and stayed for one week, until balancing on Wednesday 6th July 2005.
Her evidence during trial regarding the weekly balance was an alleged βΒ£150β figure at the end of her first week trading with Junaid, and an alleged βΒ£400 shortfallβ figure, at the end of her second week with Michael.
She lied to the jury and said that trainer Michael had βmade a phone call from office, I donβt know whereβ, and that she did not hear from Michael again after Wednesday 13th July 2005.
There were no telephone calls to the horizon helpline during Seema Misraβs two week onsite training, between 30th June and 13th July 2005, with regards any βΒ£400 shortfallβ.
Defence lawyer Keith Hadrill asked Seema Misra about her second week in the branch, which began on Thursday 7th July 2005. Below are copies of extracts from trial transcripts regarding this (p.51 here);
- Keith Hadrill: So the week goes by. Did you know what the transaction errors were or did you receive anything personally? The second week, the same trainer or a different trainer?
- Seema Misra: No. This was Michael came in
- Keith Hadrill: Was that from a Thursday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Thursday?
- Seema Misra: (inaudible) Thursday
- Keith Hadrill: What happened whilst Michael was there? Did he also sit behind and watch what you were doing?
- Seema Misra: Yeah. He was sitting behind me, but I mentioned to him β as he come in βhow is it going?β I said βnot good. I am having to put money in every day to the post officeβ. He was more concerned than Junaid. He said βthat should not be happening. Let us see how it goesβ.
- Keith Hadrill: Did it get any better?
- Seema Misra: No: I have to again put money in every day and then when balancing with Michael it came round about Β£400 short
- Keith Hadrill: At the end of the week?
- Seema Misra: End of β yeah, end of the balancing Wednesday. That is my first balance βsecond balancing in office, first with Michael
- Keith Hadrill: So the first day with Michael on the second week?
- Seema Misra: That is right β no β yeah. That is right
- Keith Hadrill: It is Β£400 short?
- Seema Misra: No, no, no. That is on the second balancing Β£400 short
- Keith Hadrill: So that is the end of the second week?
- Seema Misra: End of second week
- Keith Hadrill: Did you get any error corrections there?
- Seema Misra: No. Michael said βit is a bit unusual. I know you have been doing the transaction correctlyβ. Then I remember him staying behind and he made a phone call from office, I donβt know where, but he said he had been observing. We are doing the transaction correctly. He canβt understand β and they have been putting the money in every day to balance the till and he canβt understand why the Β£400 shortfall is
- Keith Hadrill: Right. So that gets to the end of the week. Did you get any more training?
- Seema Misra: Not after Michael, no, but he said he will look into it
- Keith Hadrill: Was that the last you heard of him?
- Seema Misra: That is right
During his cross examination, prosecutor Warwick Tatford referred to Seemaβs memory with respect to trainers Janaid and Michael, and their time at her branch during her first two weeks trading.
Seema Misra agreed with Warwick Tatford that she had a βclearβ memory of these events. Below are copies of further extracts from transcripts (p.114 here);
- Warwick Tatford: Right. I see. You have a clear memory as I understand of what happened between you and Junaid and Michael in 2005 when losses were occurring from the very beginning?
- Seema Misra: Yeah
- Warwick Tatford: And that is an important part of your defence, isnβt it?
- Seema Misra: I donβt understand that. Yeah
- Warwick Tatford: You are saying that the losses may be down to some kind of computer error, are you not, or are you not saying that?
- Seema Misra: Yeah. We are saying that, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: Right, or they are down to your incompetence?
- Seema Misra: Yes
- Warwick Tatford: Or they are down to theft?
- Seema Misra: Yes
- Warwick Tatford: Do you accept it cannot all be down to theft?
- Seema Misra: I donβt know. It is just I know the losses are there
- Warwick Tatford: Let us just examine it. Β£89,000 loss when you dismiss the thieves. The thieves have gone. The losses continue. So the losses that continue cannot be down to the thieves because you have sacked them?
- Seema Misra: That is right, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: So theft alone by your employees does not explain the loss, does it?
- Seema Misra: Okay
- Warwick Tatford: So it must be down to one or both of two matters, either computer error or your incompetence?
- Seema Misra: Yeah
- Warwick Tatford: Right. So your potential incompetence or the issue of your competence and the issue of computer error are important parts of your defence?
- Seema Misra: Okay
- Warwick Tatford: You are saying as I understand it βI knew from day one there was a problem with the system because I was suffering these losses.β Yes
- Seema Misra: I knew from the day one that we were losing money
- Warwick Tatford: Yes, and day one in what would have been rather difficult for your employees to steal from you on day one with Junaid there, would it not?
- Seema Misra: Yeah, when I look back, yes
- Warwick Tatford: Yes. So from day one you were suffering losses which you could not explain and you now put those down to either failings on your part, a lack of competence, or some sort of computer problem. Do I have it correct?
- Seema Misra: Sorry, say that again
- Warwick Tatford: You are saying you think there was a problem with the computer. Is that right?
- Seema Misra: That is right, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: You are saying you are worried that you were not up to running the system, that you were lost?
- Seema Misra: That is right, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: When you were interviewed by the Post Office on 14th January just after the audit those are matters you knew, were they not? You knew on day one that there were losses, that Junaid had found losses. You knew that Michael had had losses that he could not explain. Those are matters fresher in your memory than they are now because you were being interviewed in 2008. Yes?
- Seema Misra: That is right, yeah
- Warwick Tatford: So why didnβt you say anything to the Post Office investigators in interview about what happened with Junaid and Michael?
- Seema Misra: I got answered the question what they asked for. I did mention in Elaine Ridgeβs interview that it was because staff was blaming might be a system error
Seema Misra lied to the jury and chose to intentionally conflate Michael Opebiyiβs first week in the branch, between Thursday 7th July to Wednesday 13th July 2005, with his return to the branch, several weeks later.
During her evidence in chief Seema Misra had stated βThen I remember a guy came in, somebody from Network somethingβ (p.57h here).
Almost a month after Seema Misra began trading, on 25th July 2005 a request was received relating to her branch for βad hocβ training to be carried out regarding βbalancing procedureβ.
Following the 25th July request, trainer Michael Opebiyi was allocated to return to her branch on Wednesday 27th July, and again on Wednesday 3rd August 2005.
These were only one day assignments.
- Keith Hadrill: Was that the last you heard of him?
- Seema Misra: That is right
Again, referring to her first two weeks onsite training, Keith Hadrill had asked Seema Misra βDid you get any more training?β to which she had stated βNot after Michael, noβ.
This was a lie by concealment.
Michael Opebiyi had returned to her branch almost a month after she had last seen him, but Seema Misra chose to withhold this information from the jury.
She also chose to lie about the βΒ£400 shortfallβ figure, which was not known about until August 2005.
The βguyβ referred to by Seema βfrom Network somethingβ was intervention manager Alan Ridoutt.
Alan Ridoutt made a record of his dealings with Seema Misra, as well as the βΒ£400 shortfallβ figure.
The following are copies of some of Alan Ridouttβs βvisits logβ;
This branch was visited on 10, 17 and 27 August 2005 regarding balancing issues
I have spent many hours sorting out balancing issues and helping with the stock setup as well as arranging ad hoc training
This branch is currently holding a loss of Β£466.73 and an over of Β£96.80
That was put into the suspense account by the trainer βMichaelβ
Who told the [subpostmaster] that a voucher would be issued to clear it
I have spoken to Michael who confirmed that he did this
I have warned the [subpostmaster] that unless an error comes back they could be liable
Copies of intervention manager Alan Ridouttβs notes
25th February 2022 ~ Lies & Concoctions During Public Inquiry
The aim of the public post office horizon IT inquiry should not βonly be to establish the truth β what happened, why, and where accountability may lie β but also to alleviate public concern and restore confidence.
It should βprovide an independent account of the facts and a mechanism for recommendations so that a reoccurrence of such events does not happen.
Is Jason Beer, counsel to the inquiry, a post conviction activist or an independent inquirer?
On 25th February 2022 Seema Misra chose to lie to the inquiry about trainer Michael Opebiyi, and she literally attempted to re-write history – enabled by Jason Beer.
Below is an extract from inquiry transcripts where Jason Beer chose to go along with Seema Misraβs lies and concoctions regarding trainer Michael, which is surely in breach of his legal and professional commitments to the inquiry, and to the rule of law (p.44 & 45 here).
- Jason Beer: Did there come a time when the trainer rang the helpline
- Seema Misra: Yes. So the first week trainer, he was.. he was there but, like when the shortfalls were there and everything he said βOh, and on Wednesday when you do rollover, it will balance upβ. And on Wednesday when I do rollover, I have to put again money from the shop counter and he was just gone, nothing.. nothing said. But then when the next trainer came, Michael, the second week, and he asked me βCongratulations, how is it going and everything?β. I said.. you know, I told him what had been happening from the first day until the balancing. He was concerned. He said βLetβs see how it goesβ. He was there like Junaid but, he was paying more attention to each and every transaction we do and on Wednesday he was there with the balancing and all that, and there was a shortfall. It was in hundreds.. I think a couple of hundred pounds. He called the helpline said he had been here whole week watching each and every transaction, me doing it correctly, but still thereβs a shortfall. So the helpline asked him to do some procedure on the system and the figure doubled up
- Jason Beer: Just tell us that bit again. He was getting some instructions down the phoneline from the helpline?
- Seema Misra: Correct
- Jason Beer: They said to do something with the system?
- Seema Misra: Correct
- Jason Beer: And that caused the shortfall to double?
- Seema Misra: Double
- Jason Beer: So what happened with the doubled shortfall?
- Seema Misra: Nothing. He said, like, you know βJust keep an eyeβ. I canβt remember exactly how was it dealt with but he said βKeep an eye, if thereβs any issues thereβs a helpline number, call them upβ. But he was shocked. He said βI canβtβ – I ask him can he stay over another week or something. He said he canβt, heβs supposed to here (sic) for one week only
During the inquiry Seema Misra was referring to events which occurred around a month after she began trading, when a voucher was issued to βclearβ the βΒ£400 shortfallβ figure.
Her allegations that figures βdoubledβ was, and still is, yet another blatant concoction.
At no time during her evidence at trial did Seema Misra give any indication that any figures had βdoubledβ.
Biased Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry: Continued.. Further Questions For Warwick Tatford Re: His ARQ Data Not Affected By 3 Falsely Accused Former Employees & Seema Misra Lied To The Inquiry (Part 21a)
During his 15th of November 2023 evidence to the post office horizon IT inquiry, Warwick Tatford did not refer to the ARQ data relating to Seema Misraβs βmisappropriationβ of the Β£23,374.50 lotto monies.
Tap on the button below to read Part 21, which is the previous blog on the ARQ date;
The following extracts are between Jason Beer, counsel to the inquiry, and Warwick Tatford, in which they spoke about the ARQ data between December 2006 to December 2007 relating to Seema Misraβs West Byfleet branch (Source post office inquiry transcripts here);
- Mr Beer: You said β Iβm not going to turn it up for the moment β the rationale behind why you were given that 13-month period, ie December β06 to the end of December β07, is because itβs not tainted by any suggestion of theft, ie suggestion of theft made by Mrs Misra. Itβs clean data to look at for computer error.
- Warwick Tatford: Yes, not tainted by theft by employees of Mrs Misra, not Mrs Misra herself. Itβs to β clean data to focus on whether any patterns could be seen that might be suggestive of Horizon problems. It was really to focus on that β the three possibilities, that possibility that was raised by her defence at the trial.
- Mr Beer: Professor McLachlan replied βBut I requested the data for the entire periodβ, and you said: βI fully accept that but, if one requested and received every piece of paper for West Byfleet, we would probably fill this room.β Is that your understanding of why the data was not requested for the entirety of the period of the theft count, ie cost and volume?
- Warwick Tatford: Cost, volume, those were the main reasons, Iβm afraid. It was also β there was the additional consideration of an untainted period but I β the dominant factors were cost β the dominant factor was cost and the contractual relationship with Fujitsu, I think.
- Mr Beer: I think you candidly accept in you witness statement that, on reflection, this was the wrong approach?
- Warwick Tatford: Yes. Very much so. And β well, I set out reasons for that. I agree. I accept that. Yes.
- Mr Beer: Would I summarise them correctly as follows: the Crown chose to charge an ongoing theft over a long period of time?
- Warwick Tatford: Yes.
- Mr Beer: Once the defence raised the reliability of Horizon, disclosing the Horizon data for the whole of the indictment period was not a matter of disclosing unused material; it was also the primary evidence upon which the Crown relied in order to prove that the property belonging to another had been appropriated by the defendant?
- Warwick Tatford: Yes, thatβs right, it was served as evidence.
- Mr Beer: In other words, that data was necessary to prove the elements of the offence of theft?
- Warwick Tatford: Yes, I would agree with that.
- Mr Beer: Therefore, Mrs Misra was entitled to receive the entirety of the data for that period as served evidence, so that her expert could analyse it and see whether the Crown had indeed proved its case?
- Warwick Tatford: Yes, I certainly would agree with that now. Iβve explained the reasoning. I think the reasoning now was wrong, as exposed by the Court of Appeal. But, actually, the way that youβve exposed it shows that itβs wrong simply in its basic logic.
- Mr Beer: Did you consider that the theft and false accounting charges were essentially alleging the same criminal conduct?
- Warwick Tatford: No. I was aware of the case of Eden, which I referred to in my abuse of process argument, and the Crown has to consider very carefully whether to charge both types of offending. In this case, it was fully justified because it allowed Mrs Misra to plead guilty to what she accepted but also allowed the Crown, if it had the evidence to do so, to pursue the clearly more serious allegation of theft.
The 3 Falsely Accused Former Employees Had Left The Post Office By February 2006
Warwick Tatford would have known about the fact that the 3 falsely accused former employees had left the post office by February 2006, therefore from March 2006 to December 2006 would also have been βclean dataβ and not βtainted by theft by employees of Mrs Misraβ.
He would also have known about the fact that Seema Misra intentionally obfuscated throughout her evidence, including during her trial evidence.
Below are extracts from trial transcripts, where Warwick Tatford had asked Adrian Morris, one of the post office investigators, to tell the jury some of what Seema had said during her recorded interview, whilst under caution. The statements were an βagreed summary of the recordingβ (p.70 here);
- Warwick Tatford: Then if you could pick it up at the bottom of the page, please?
- Adrian Morris: Okay. βDiscussion regarding staff who took money where SM says they were not sacked but left. One person owed 300 to 4,000 losses from the till. Others had left the countryβ
- Warwick Tatford: Mrs Misra says that βone left in February 2006.β She points out that she had taken over the shop in June 2005. βThree of the staff were family members. Others left at the end of 2006. One lady worked only in the shopβ
- Adrian Morris: I asked βhow much was missing at the end of 2006 when the staff left?β
- Warwick Tatford: Mrs Misra says βit was around 89,000 to Β£90,000β
- Adrian Morris: βExplains that husband informed him that the police had been notified of the losses but the police were only made aware of Β£1,000β
- Warwick Tatford: So in fact that has been put down as βAMβ but in fact that must be Mrs Misra saying that. Would that be right?
- Adrian Morris: I think it may be the way that that has been written. I think the husband may have told me that
- Warwick Tatford: I am so sorry, my misunderstanding. So you think Mrs Misraβs husband had told you the police had been notified of the losses but the police were only made aware of the Β£1,000
- Adrian Morris: Only just reading that now that is how it looks
- Warwick Tatford: I see. Thank you. Then Seema Misra, she goes on to say she found the difference later and they were expecting some repayment
- Adrian Morris: βConfirmed that around November or December 2006 there was a shortage in the accounts of 89,000. Recaps that the staff were sacked or resigned or left the country and since November only SM and her husband work in the post office assisted by Malina and Aliβ
The alleged βstaff who took the moneyβ and who βwere not sacked but leftβ appear to have been Shakia Suksener, Javed Badiwalia and his sister-in-law Nadia Badiwalia.
The staff member who Seema Misra alleged had βowed 300 to 4,000 losses from the tillβ appears to have been Shakia Suksener.
Seema Misra dropped her false allegations against Shakia Suksener just before her trial.
It is not clear who the 3 βfamily membersβ were, or who the staff member was who allegedly βleft at the end of 2006β.
Ali Raza appears to have began working for Seema Misra sometime after Shakia, Javed and Nadia had left in February 2006.
Between the time Shakia, Javed and Nadia left in February 2006, Seema Misra chose to not tell the jury who was working in the post office during the 8 months from February to November 2006, instead she chose to obfuscate.
It is also not known if Ali Raza really βwas trained by the post officeβ, like Seema claimed he was during her trial.
Seema Misra Lied By Omission To The Inquiry In February 2022
On 23rd February 2022 Seema Misra lied by omission to the inquiry
Jason Beer, asked her here how many staff she employed to work in the post office.
Below is an extract from the transcript of what Seema Misra told the inquiry (p.39 here);
- Jason Beer: Who else worked in the branch?
- Seema Misra: We had a staff, which we took over from the previous subpostmaster as well
- Jason Beer: How many staff were there?
- Seema Misra: There was like one person and then we had employed two more
- Jason Beer: So three, other than you and Mr Misra?
- Seema Misra: Correct, yes
This was not βcorrectβ. There were five staff members, not βthreeβ.
Seema Misra told the jury during her trial that Shakia Suksener was an βinheritedβ member of the post office staff and that he left before Seema employed Nadia Badiwalia.
Javed Badiwalia had also been an βinheritedβ member of staff who had first worked in the shop and was βpromotedβ to work in the post office.
Ali Raza and Malina had been employed some time after February 2006.
Defence lawyer Keith Hadrill asked Seema who she employed. Below are extracts taken from trial transcripts (p.72 here);
- Keith Hadrill: Did you employ other persons to help behind the post office?
- Seema Misra: I did, yeah
- Keith Hadrill: Who trained those persons?
- Seema Misra: It was just one person Ali who was trained by Post Office, Ali Raza. Ali was trained by Post Office, all other was I trained them
An extract taken from theββagreed summary of the recordingβ of Seema Misraβs interview whilst under caution reads βsince November only SM and her husband work in the post office assisted by Malina and Aliβ (p.70 here).
Therefore Shakia, Javed, Nadia, Ali and Malina – equals five staff members, who Seema Misra named as having worked in the post office.
Warwick Tatford would also have known that Seema Misra did not seemingly falsely accuse Ali Raza or Malina of theft, and that her defence was that βaround November or December 2006 there was a shortage in the accounts of 89,000β.
Yet he omitted to address any of these facts during his evidence to the inquiry – Why?
βBundleβ Relating To October 2005 To October 2006
Warwick Tatford would also have known that Seema Misra had already received the data relating to the time period leading up to the first two βtransaction correctionsβ.
It was discovered in October 2006, not long after Seema Misra and her husband had returned from their luxury trip to Munich, Germany (courtesy of the post office), that she had failed to transfer Β£23,374.50 from her shops till into the post office account.
It was also during this time period (September 2006), that Β£3,930 worth of euros went βmissingβ. Below is an extract from trial transcripts, in which it can be seen Keith Hadrill asked Seema about the βmissingβ euros (p.82 here);
- Keith Hadrill: β—because things were not right. Things we notice there were 4,000 euro missing.β What is this about?
- Seema Misra: That is the rem came in and the, I donβt know exact what they was, like they was like a euros down while we were away. There was like euros down
- Keith Hadrill: So whilst you were away some euros were meant to have come in and you were down?
- Seems Misra: Yeah
- Keith Hadrill: So that is 4,000 euros and that caused a currency problem, did it?
- Seema Misra: That is right
- Keith Hadrill: A reconciliation problem?
- Seems Misra: Can recall the actual amount which was like should be on the in pouch. It is a bit less than 4,000 euro lesser
The post office agreed to allow Seema to settle the Β£23,374.50 centrally, on 21st November 2006, and for the debt to be paid back via monthly instalments from her salary (p.10 here & p.71 here).
However before this was agreed, Seema Misra had received a βthick bundleβ from the post office which contained βall the figuresβ for her branch.
Defence lawyer Keith Hadrill asked Seema Misra about this during her trial, as follows (p.70 here);
- Keith Hadrill: And we know from this statement that has been given or the evidence that has been given by Mr Longman, 25th October 2006, the post office issued you with two transaction corrections relating to the Camelot National Lottery. Do you remember that?
- Seema Misra: Yes. When I questioned that a thick bundle arrived with all the figures and all that and I rang back again and rang and spoken to. I could not actually make up how to tell you how much losses and all that. All I was told was it is my loss. I have to make it good
Warwick Tatford would also have been aware of these facts.
Seema Misra had already been provided with a βthick bundleβ for βall the figuresβ, so why would Warwick Tatford consider βcostβ and βvolumeβ to be his βmain reasonsβ for not having obtained copies of data Seema already had up to November 2006?
He would also have been aware of the fact that between 30th June 2005 and October 2005, the βshortfallβ had been Β£3,184, which Seema Misra had lied about in her defence statement and had inflated to βΒ£5,000β.