> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://adamdavidlong.gitbook.io/lawsnap-guide-to-smart-contracts/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://adamdavidlong.gitbook.io/lawsnap-guide-to-smart-contracts/applications/overview-of-case-studies/uk-post-office-scandal.md).

# UK Post Office Scandal

Dozens of.post employees in the UK were wrongly prosecuted as a direct result of bugs in a software accounting system and a coverup \[[1](/lawsnap-guide-to-smart-contracts/applications/overview-of-case-studies/uk-post-office-scandal.md#sources)].  

> At the centre of the scandal is Horizon – a bug-ridden back-office system that misreported accounting and stocktaking practices, leading to the false fraud allegations that resulted in criminal convictions. \[[2](/lawsnap-guide-to-smart-contracts/applications/overview-of-case-studies/uk-post-office-scandal.md#sources)]

Nick Gould has written a [comprehensive linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/piece-i-said-id-write-post-office-scandal-its-nice-nor-nick-gould/) post on the scandal, where a faulty computer system led to [dozens of false convictions](https://www.newstatesman.com/business/companies/2021/04/2bn-question-how-did-fujitsu-emerge-unscathed-post-office-scandal).  

**Coming soon**: we are working on a piece that addresses how Smart Contracts, using a distributed ledger, could help avoid such miscarriages of justice in the future.

## Further Reading

[Speech by Paul Marshall](https://www.postofficetrial.com/2021/06/marshall-spells-it-out-speech-to.html), one of the attorneys handling the matter, 

Wikipedia summary, [British Post Office scandal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Post_Office_scandal)

## Sources

\[1] Gareth Corfield, [39 Post Office convictions quashed after Fujitsu evidence about Horizon IT platform called into question](https://www.theregister.com/2021/04/23/post_office_scandal_fujitsu_convictions_quashed/),  2021-04-23

\[2] Oscar Williams, [The £2bn question: How did Fujitsu emerge unscathed from the Post Office scandal?](https://www.newstatesman.com/business/companies/2021/04/2bn-question-how-did-fujitsu-emerge-unscathed-post-office-scandal), 2021-04-27