Humza raises fears ‘guilty’ postmasters could be pardoned
A BLANKET pardon of Horizon scandal postmasters in Scotland could see rightful convictions being overturned, Humza Yousaf warned yesterday.
His comment comes only days after Justice Secretary angela Constance backed calls for a Uk-wide pardon, despite fears it would be incompatible with Scots law.
The Uk Government rejected a plea from Mr Yousaf earlier this month to extend its legislation to cover Scotland because of concerns about the separate legal system.
The First Minister said he fears the legislation could lead to ‘sound’ convictions being overturned.
Mr Yousaf said yesterday: ‘I do have to say I have some initial concerns around the Uk bill.
‘So we have to make sure that we’re striking the absolute right balance between ensuring there is timely – expedited, in fact – access to the Uk compensation scheme because we all recognise, this parliament recognises, sub-postmasters have waited too long.
‘At the same time, we want to make sure that people who have genuinely committed a crime, their conviction is sound and they do not have access to £600,000 of compensation.’
He said if Holyrood were to ‘almost mirror the broad scope’ of the Uk bill ‘we would be in danger of overturning convictions’ and the public would ‘be pretty horrified’.
Around 100 Scottish postmasters were convicted of theft due to faults with the Horizon computer system.
Mr Yousaf has admitted that Scots Horizon victims will not see justice until after those in england and Wales. the Uk bill may not conclude until the end of July.
He said: ‘Of course, this parliament would be in recess at that point, and therefore we may have to consider – it would be up to the parliament to consider – a recall.’
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay believes Holyrood can begin the process before summer. He said: ‘there’s no reason for Humza Yousaf to talk about parliament being recalled or for him to wait for UK legislation.
‘Rather than blaming Westminster, the SNP should get on with seeing that the victims of this scandal finally get justice.’