邮局丑闻：前首席执行官寻求最大限度地减少对被错误定罪的副邮政局长的赔偿

在 2014 年 2 月的一次会议上，前邮局局长保拉·文内尔斯 (Paula Vennells) 对可能向被错误定罪的副邮政局长支付 1 亿英镑赔偿的调解计划表示担忧。维内尔斯表示，最初设想的补偿金额要小得多，类似于象征性的道歉。出席会议的包括 Vennells、邮局总法律顾问 Chris Aujard 以及审计公司 Second Sight 的代表。

Former Post Office Chief Paula Vennells Sought to Limit Compensation for Wrongly Convicted Sub-Postmasters

前邮局局长保拉·文内尔斯 (Paula Vennells) 寻求限制对被错误定罪的副邮政局长的赔偿

London, April 26, 2024 - The ongoing public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal has revealed that former Post Office Chief Executive Paula Vennells sought to pay only nominal compensation to sub-postmasters who were wrongfully convicted of financial crimes.

伦敦，2024 年 4 月 26 日 - 对“邮局地平线”丑闻的持续公开调查显示，邮局前首席执行官保拉·文内尔斯 (Paula Vennells) 只寻求向被错误定罪犯有金融犯罪的副邮政局长支付象征性的赔偿。

Minutes from a February 2014 meeting, obtained by The Telegraph, show that Vennells expressed concern over a mediation scheme that could potentially pay out £100 million in compensation, significantly exceeding initial estimates.

《电讯报》获得的 2014 年 2 月会议纪要显示，维内尔斯对一项可能支付 1 亿英镑赔偿金的调解计划表示担忧，远远超出了最初的估计。

At the meeting, attended by Vennells, Post Office General Counsel Chris Aujard, and representatives from auditing firm Second Sight, Vennells suggested that the compensation should be much smaller, amounting to a mere token gesture and apology.

在维内尔斯、邮局总法律顾问克里斯·奥贾德以及审计公司 Second Sight 的代表出席的会议上，维内尔斯建议赔偿金额应该小得多，这只是象征性的姿态和道歉。

This revelation has raised questions about Vennells' priorities and the Post Office's initial response to the scandal.

这一消息引发了人们对文内尔斯的优先事项以及邮局对丑闻的初步反应的质疑。

During the inquiry, Angela van den Bogerd, a former senior Post Office manager, faced questioning regarding the tragic case of Martin Griffiths, a sub-postmaster who took his own life in 2013 after being wrongfully prosecuted.

在调查过程中，前邮局高级经理安吉拉·范·登·博格德 (Angela van den Bogerd) 面临有关副邮政局长马丁·格里菲斯 (Martin Griffiths) 悲惨案件的质询，马丁·格里菲斯 (Martin Griffiths) 于 2013 年被错误起诉后自杀。

Evidence presented to the inquiry shows that the Post Office's initial response to Griffiths' death prioritized protecting its brand reputation over providing support to his family.

调查提供的证据显示，邮局对格里菲斯去世的最初反应优先考虑的是保护其品牌声誉，而不是为他的家人提供支持。

In an email to van den Bogerd and other senior Post Office managers one month after Griffiths' suicide, Vennells requested background information on his family and mental health status in order to brief the board.

格里菲斯自杀一个月后，文内尔斯在给范登博格德和其他邮局高级经理的一封电子邮件中，要求提供有关他的家庭和心理健康状况的背景信息，以便向董事会通报情况。

Vennells was quoted as saying, "I had heard but have yet to see a formal report, that there were previous mental health issues and potential family issues."

文内尔斯表示：“我听说但尚未看到正式报告，称之前存在心理健康问题和潜在的家庭问题。”

Van den Bogerd, in her statement to the inquiry, indicated that she collaborated with other colleagues to provide Vennells with the requested information.

范登博格德在接受调查的声明中表示，她与其他同事合作向维内尔斯提供了所要求的信息。

Van den Bogerd also confirmed that a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) was included in the settlement with Griffiths' widow. She explained that this was standard practice at the Post Office, but admitted that she had not questioned it.

范登博格德还证实，与格里菲斯遗孀的和解协议中包含了一份保密协议（NDA）。她解释说这是邮局的标准做法，但承认她对此没有质疑。

When asked by Jason Beer KC if the NDA amounted to secrecy, van den Bogerd responded that it was simply a way to settle claims and conclude the engagement, adding that it was a general practice, not specific to the Griffiths case.

当 Jason Beer KC 询问 NDA 是否相当于保密时，范登博格德回答说，这只是解决索赔和结束约定的一种方式，并补充说这是一种普遍做法，并非格里菲斯案所特有的。

Van den Bogerd held various senior roles at the Post Office during her 35-year career, including Head of Partnerships, Director of Support Services, and Director of People and Change. From 2010 onwards, she was responsible for handling complaints about the Horizon system.

Van den Bogerd 在 35 年的职业生涯中曾在邮局担任过多个高级职位，包括合作伙伴主管、支持服务总监以及人员与变革总监。 2010年起，她负责处理Horizo​​n系统的投诉。

Earlier in the inquiry, Sam Stein KC questioned van den Bogerd about whether she was aware of concerns regarding the Horizon system prior to her involvement. She acknowledged that there were "rumblings" around the time she assumed her role.

在调查的早些时候，Sam Stein KC 询问范登博格德，她在参与之前是否意识到对地平线系统的担忧。她承认，在她上任期间，存在一些“传言”。

However, van den Bogerd denied claims that the helpline set up by the Post Office to address Horizon-related issues was fraudulent. Stein KC informed the inquiry that out of the 102 sub-postmasters represented by Howe & Co law firm, 43% were told by the helpline that the shortfall was their own responsibility.

然而，范登博格德否认了邮局为解决地平线相关问题而设立的帮助热线具有欺诈性的说法。 Stein KC 告诉调查，在 Howe & Co 律师事务所代表的 102 名副邮政局长中，43% 的人在热线电话中被告知，短缺是他们自己的责任。

The Post Office Horizon scandal has had a devastating impact on hundreds of sub-postmasters, with over 700 being wrongly convicted and 236 serving time in prison. The public inquiry is continuing to investigate the full extent of the scandal and the Post Office's response to it.

邮局地平线丑闻对数百名副邮政局长造成了毁灭性影响，其中 700 多人被错误定罪，236 人在监狱服刑。公众调查正在继续调查丑闻的全部范围以及邮局对此的反应。