Post Office scandal victim waiting for compensation

A former sub-postmaster, who was wrongfully convicted of false accounting in the Horizon Scandal, said he cannot move on with his life until he has had the compensation he is owed paid to him.

Sami Sabet ran three post offices in Shoreham and Portslade.

He has rejected the payment that was offered to him as he believes he would have made more money had he not lost his job in the scandal.

A government spokesperson said it is "working tirelessly to get compensation into the hands of those postmasters and postmistresses wronged by the injustices of this scandal".

Mr Sabet also believes that the independent body that was recommended to be created by the House of Commons Business and Trade committee's report will take too long to set up.

Speaking to BBC South East, he said: "How long will we have to wait for that body to be set up? Find the right people that will be the appraisers?

"Please stop the bargaining of the Post Office. Look at what our solicitors are saying we have lost and what we are owed. I want my money now before more of us die and don't get what we are owed.

"The £600,000 we are being offered at the moment is an insult."

Mr Sabet, who has had his conviction quashed, now suffers from PTSD and says what happened to him "will never leave me".

"I am being told I need to have therapy. I need to put all of this behind me and let the dust settle."

The government spokesperson added: "We will consider this report, and its recommendations, carefully and respond in due course."

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.