Japanese firm Fujitsu is the big corporate name behind the faulty IT system Horizon which has resulted in the wrongful prosecutions of hundreds of sub-postmasters.
The software was rolled out by the Post Office in 1999 to manage financial transactions in branches but wrongly detected financial shortfalls in accounts running until 2015.
A High Court judge later ruled in 2019 the Horizon system contained a number of “bugs, errors and defects” and there was a “material risk” that shortfalls in Post Office branch accounts were caused by the system.
Although flagged by sub-postmasters, the Post Office wrongfully prosecuted more than 700 people for theft, false accounting, and fraud, due to the faulty software.
So far, 93 convictions have been overturned.
Amid rising public interest in the scandal, Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday that blanket legislation to exonerate sub-postmasters convicted in England and Wales will be introduced within weeks after an ITV drama highlighted the issue.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Sunak said: “This is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history.
“People who worked hard to serve their communities had their lives and their reputations destroyed through absolutely no fault of their own. The victims must get justice and compensation.”
Here’s what we know about the firm behind Horizon.
Who owns Fujitsu?
Fujitsu Limited is a Japanese multinational company focused on information and communications technology.
Established in 1935 as a telecommunications manufacturer, it now employs approximately 124,000 staff worldwide, and its products and services are available in around 180 countries.
It is estimated to be the sixth-largest IT services provider by annual revenue, which in the last financial year was 324.6bnY (£1.75bn).
Takahito Tokita, who joined the firm in 1988, is its chief executive.
The company is part of the Furukawa Group, which includes Furukawa Electric Co Ltd, Fuji Electric Co Ltd, Fujitsu Ltd, The Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd and the Mizuho Financial Group.
The Furukawa Company was founded in 1875 as a copper mine developer and is now one of the largest industrial groups in Japan.
Where is Fujitsu based?
The firm’s headquarters are in Minato-ku, Tokyo with a main office in Kawasaki.
But it has offices around the world, on almost every continent.
In the UK, its main office is in Bracknell in Berkshire.
What does the firm do?
Fujitsu is known for its information and communication technology equipment and services.
Aside from the Horizon software, it provides IT services to multiple UK Government departments, including the Home Office, the Foreign Office, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.
But it could be blocked from future government contracts, as reported by i, once a public inquiry is completed as a result of the Post Office scandal.
The firm also produces computer hardware and air-conditioning systems.