Gareth Jenkins, architect of Post Office scandal, demands immunity

The architect of the central to convictions and repeatedly used by Post Office lawyers.

Tracked down by The Telegraph to his home in Berkshire, Mr Jenkins, 69, said, when asked if he was sorry for what had happened: “I don’t want to talk. I don’t have anything to say to you.”

Cannot be used against him

Mr Jenkins has twice sought a guarantee that any testimony he gives to the inquiry cannot be used against him in any possible prosecution and his testimony has also been delayed twice.

On Tuesday, the Post Office – raising serious questions about whether Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, oversaw found by the Post Office, this time days beforehand, forcing the postponement.

Mr Jenkins has twice requested that Sir Wyn Williams, the inquiry chairman, ask the Attorney General to grant him immunity from any comments he makes during evidence to the inquiry from being used against him in a court of law in any possible future criminal proceedings.

Both times, Sir Wyn has refused his request. In October 2023, Sir Wyn said he would not be seeking an undertaking from the Attorney General that “would restrict the use in criminal proceedings of evidence given to the inquiry, as requested by former Fujitsu engineer, Gareth Jenkins”.

He added: “I am satisfied that Mr Jenkins has not been the victim of unfairness as yet and I am determined that he should not become the victim of unfairness as the work of the inquiry progresses.”

Politicians have demanded that Mr Jenkins be made to give evidence.

Kevan Jones, the Labour MP and member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, said; “Gareth Jenkins should appear before the public inquiry. The inquiry sees him as a key witness and therefore he should give evidence. If he doesn’t appear then he should be made to appear. What has been amazing this week is deafening silence from Fujitsu as a company. They need to come forward and explain what their role has been in all this.”

David Davis, the former Tory cabinet minister who has been pushing for justice for the sub-postmasters, said: “He should appear and give evidence. I can’t think in what world he imagines he should get immunity given the fact of the matter is we’re going to have to investigate what happened.  

“We can’t give immunity just because people are going to give evidence to the public inquiry. Giving evidence is a requirement of their involvement in this case.”