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CONFIDENTIAL
Witness List
Rv Seema MISRA *Tick if statement attached
No I Witness details *
1 Name Keith Noverre
Address c .
Occupation Date of Birth GRO
Tel No (home) (Business)
2 Name Elaine Ridge
Address
Occupation . J Date of Birth [ GRO I
Tel No (home) (Business) [
3 Name Lisa Jane Allen
Address
Occupation Date of Birth
Tel No (home) (Business)
4 Name Jon Longman
Address GRO
Occupation Date of Birth
Tel No (home) (Business)
5 Name Adrian Morris
Address
. Occupation i Date of Birth
Tel No (home) .* (Business) I __. GRO
Continuation Sheet Yes [yi] No BX]
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CONFIDENTIAL
The Queen v Seema MISRA (. 2
List of Witnesses OFFICE
F
NAME OR PAGE
c NUMBERS
Keith Noverre
Elaine Ridge
Lisa Allen
Jon Longman
Adrian Morris
NAME AND ADDRESS OF PROSECUTING SOLICITOR FOR ALIBI WARNING (IF ANY)
;-Raval Mail. Comorate.Securitu...... Agent acting on behalf of the
Legal Services
Address
Telephone:
Reference Pb/"~
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a)
and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Statement of Keith Noverre
Age if under 18 Over 18 (If over 18 insert ‘over 18')
This statement (consisting of three (3) pages each signed by me) is true to the best of my knowledge and
belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have
wilfully stated in it anything which I know to be false or do not believe true.
Dated the 8" day of January 2009
I am employed by Post Office Ltd as an Auditor and have held this position since
September 2003. My duties involved the verification of stock, cash and vouchers by
performance of audit at all Post Office Outlets.
On Monday 14” January 2008, I attended West Byfleet Post Office,
GRO, Branch Code (126023) to carry out an audit
together with my two colleagues, Sue Le May and Chris Stevens. I arrived at the Post
Office at about 08.30 hours and I introduced myself and my colleagues to a member of
staff namely, Mr Ali Raza when he arrived at the Post Office at 08.40 hours. Mr Raza
allowed my colleagues and me into the Post Office secure area and an audit of the Post
Office commenced. Soon afterwards Mr Davinder Misra, husband of the
subpostmistress, Mrs Seema Misra arrived and said that his wife was visiting relatives
and would come to the Post Office a little while later.
At 10.45 hours on the 14" January 2008, Mrs Seema Misra arrived at the Post Office
and immediately informed me that the Post Office accounts would be short for an
amount of £50,000 to £60,000. Mrs Misra explained to me that about a year ago,
-- GRO
S011 (Side A) Version 3.0 14/02
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NOTE: This side B to be completed only when the original statement is overleaf. When this form is used to
make a copy of a statement side B is to be left blank.
Address
Home telephone No:
_ Business telephone N
Occupation:. _ Fie! Date and piace of birth:
Maiden name.:
Dates to be avoided. Delete dates of non availability of witness
Month of: Feb 2009 Wionth of: March 2009 Month of: April 2009
1 2 3,415 6 7 q 2,;,3),4 5 6,7 i 2 3 4)5 6 7
8 9 I 10) 14) 12/13 [147 8 I 9 I 10 12,13); 14] 8 9 I 10 I 11 I 12 I 13 I 14
15 I 16 I 17 18 I 48 I 20 I 245745 I 16 I 17 I 18 I 79 I 20 I 21545 I 16 I 47 I 18 I 19 I 20 I 24
22 I 23 I 24 26 I 27 I 28 I 22 I 23 I 24 I 25 I 26 28 I 22 I 23 I 24 I 25 I 26 I 27 I 28
29 I 30 I 31 29 I 30 I 31 29 I 30 I 34
Month of: May 2009 Month of: June 2009 Month of: July 2009
8 I 9 I 10 I 11 I 412) 13) 144 8 I 9 I 10) 17) 12) 43) 144 8 I S I 10 I 47:} 12 I 13 I 14
18 I 16 I 17 I 18 I 19 I 20 I 24 18 I 16 I 17 I 18 I 19 I 20 I 21
22 I 23 I 24 I 25 I 26 I 27 I 28 22 I 23 I 24 I 25 I 26 I 27 I 28
29 I 30 I 34 29 I 30 I 314 29 I 30 I 31
Contact point, if different from above:
Address:
Telephone No:
STATEMENT TAKEN BY (print name) _Yon Longman
Office _ Investigation Dept
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a) and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Continuation of statement of Keith Noverre
previous members of staff had taken around £89,000 from the Post Office. Mrs Misra
said that she was scared about losing the Post Office so did not tell anybody in Post
Office Ltd about this and had been falsely adjusting her balances to show a clear trading
position at the end of each period.
I then telephoned Paul Dawkins of the Post Office Investigation Team and Tony Hills,
Network Compliance Audit Manager to inform them of what Mrs Misra had told me.
West Byfleet Post Office uses six stock units and three of them were still in the previous
balance period. I asked Seema to balance the three stocks so that they could be put
into the current trading period which was 10 and to then complete a final balance.
Seema signed the Final Branch Trading Account for the period 12"° December 2007 to
the 14" January 2008 and I now exhibit it as KN/01.
I discovered that in the suspense account of exhibit KN/01 there was an amount of
£30,930.07 being held under the heading “All Currencies Awaiting Collection C Fwd’.
There was an amount of £27,000 held in cash pouches and an amount of £3,930.07
held in currency in pouches. Seema showed me the two grey pouches with rem slips
dated the 9" January 2008 enclosed. Both pouches had been remmed out using
Seema’s log on code of SMI001 but there was no cash. The currency pouch was not to
hand and Seema could not offer an explanation regarding this. I exhibit as KN/02 the
remittance pouch and slips for £13,000 and KN/03 the remittance pouch and slips for
£14,000.
The final audit report revealed the following discrepancies;
Stock AA ~£37,395.47
Stock BB -£209.68
Stock CC -£2,444.60
Signaty G RO Hl Signature witnessed by
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a) and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Continuation of statement of Keith Noverre
Stock DD -£738.77
OOH Clear
SMI ~£2,891.25
Rem Pouches = -£27,000.00
Currency Pouch -£3,930.07
Audit Result -£74,609.84 (excluding £3,034.03 — existing debt)
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I have written an audit report of what occurred on this day and I produce this as exhibit
CSOtIA
Signature witnessed by
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Witness Statement
(CG Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3Xa)
and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Statement of Elaine Ridge
Age if under 18 Over 18 (If over 18 insert ‘over 18°)
This statement (consisting of four (4) pages each signed by me is true to the best of my
knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to
prosecution if I have wilfully stated in it anything, which I know to be false or do not believe
true.
Datedthe 9th Dayof January 2009
Signature
{have been employed by Post Office Ltd for over 28 years. Since January 1980, I have
performed the role of Contracts Manager and was appointed to the position of Agents
Contract Manager in September 06. My duty involves the appointment of new Subpostmasters
and any ongoing contractual issues that arise thereafter. Due to the nature of the work I do, {
am location independent worker and move between locations to do various types of interviews
depending on the location of the branch and person being interviewed.
One of the Post Offices that I oversee is West Byfleet Sub Post Office Branch,
GRO =""Wwhich has a Financial Accounting Division Code of
Mrs Seema Misra was appointed on 30 June 2005 as Subpostmaster of West Byfleet Post
Office until her suspension on the 14° January 2008. Subpostmasters are not employees of
Post Office Ltd, but operate under a contract to provide services on behalf of Post Office Ltd.
Signature Signature witnessed by
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a) and 58, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Continuation of statement of Elaine Ridge
Subpostmasters usually locate the actual Post Office in premises in which they also run a
private business. Under the terms of the contract, Subpostmasters have sole responsibility for
all stock and cash, and for all daily, weekly and monthly accounting and administration in
respect of the Post Office.
Mrs Misra’s general duties included the following:
Sale of postage stamps, postal orders, National Savings products, travel products, financial
services products e.g. car/home insurance, personal loans etc, Homephone service, in addition
to banking and bill payment transactions.
Post Office Ltd within it's main Branch Post Offices and Sub Post Offices uses a computerised
accounting system known as HORIZON in relation to the various types of transactions
conducted over the counter and for the recording of daily, weekly and monthly figures in
relation to those transactions. The system is used by the operator to conduct all transactions
carried out at the counter and therefore the operator is able to view the extent of transactions
conducted on a daily, weekly and monthly basis as well as provide information as to the state
of stock sold or received and cash received.
A Post Office Operations Manual is held at each Post Office outlet operating the Horizon
system.
Post Office Ltd operates a system whereby all offices must bring to account all of the
transactions conducted over a period of a month as well as declare the correct amount of cash
and stock held at the close of business which ultimately leads to the office ‘Balance’. This term
is used throughout the Post Office when referring to the monthly practice of declaring the
state of the office accounts.
Signature i GRO I Signature witnessed by
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a) and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Continuation of statement of Elaine Ridge
The accounting month for a Post Office would start with the actual cash and stock physically
held on site known and this formed part of the starting figure used for accounting purposes for
that month. As the month progresses a large number of transactions are performed over the
counter with the general public, for instance if a customer purchases a first class stamp for 36
pence, the Post Office counter provides the customer with a first class stamp (i.e. stock) and
therefore the starting figure reduces by 36 pence in the stock portion, however, the customer
hands the Post Office 36 pence in cash, this therefore inflates the cash figure by 36 pence and
brings the starting figure back to it’s original state and a ‘balance’ is once again established.
The Horizon system keeps a running tally of all transactions conducted over the course of the
month and the operator is able to request various reports from the system at any time to
display the current state of the accounts, such as the cash on hand figure etc. These can be
viewed on the monitor or printed off.
A balance is reached when the figures for both the payments and receipts are the same, any
discrepancy in the two figures would result in the office declaring a shortage or a surplus of
cash in the accounts. Once the operator is content with the office accounts, they are then
required to print off two copies of the Branch Trading Account, these accounts show
summaries of all transactions conducted that month together with the actual values of cash
and stock to hand. Both copies of the Branch Trading Account must be signed by the Sub
Postmaster as being a true record of the state of accounts of the office, both the trial and final
copies are retained at the branch.
Sometime during Monday 14" January 2008 I received a telephone call from Keith Noverre,
Post Office Ltd Auditor. He told me that there was going to be a substantial audit shortage at
West Byfleet Post Office. As a result of this information I then spoke to Mrs Seema Misra the
subpostmistress and precautionary suspended her.
GRO
Signature;
Signature witnessed by
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a) and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Continuation of statement of Elaine Ridge
Under the terms of the subpostmaster contract, a subpostmaster is prohibited from using Post
Office® cash for their own purposes. Subpostmaster Contract, section 12, paragraph 3 states
the following:
‘The subpostmaster is expressly forbidden to make use of the balance due to Post Office Ltd
for any purpose other than the requirements of the Post Office service; and he must, on no
account apply to his own private use, for however short a period, any portion of Post Office Ltd
funds entrusted to him/her. They must also be careful to keep the Post Office® money
separate from any other monies. Misuse of Post Office Ltd cash may render the offender liable
to prosecution and, or, the termination of his Contract of Appointment’
I produce as exhibit ER/01 the contract which Mrs Misra signed agreeing to be bound by the
terms of her contract and by the rules contained in the book of rules and the instructions
contained in those postal instructions issued to her. In addition I also produce as exhibit ER/02
the appropriate page from the Subpostmasters Contract which details the subpostmasters
responsibilities for Post Office stock and cash.
ican confirm from Post Office Training records that Mrs Misra received the following training;
Two weeks in a class room environment and then a trainer attend the branch for one week on
site training which is, the standard training given to any Postmaster.
Signature Signature witnessed by
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NOTE: This side B to be completed only when the original statement is overleaf. When this form is used to
make a copy of a statement side B is to be left blank.
ER
Address
Home telephone No: Business telephone Ni
AGENTS CONTRACT
Occupation:. MANAGER Date and place of birth: A
Maiden name.: _WRIGHT identity code: 1
Dates to be avoided. Delete dates of non availability of witness
Month of: June 2008 Month of: July 2008 Month of: Aug 2008
4) 2)3),4/5)6)7)4)2),3)4)5)6)75741)2)3),4)5
8 I 9 I 10 I 11] 12] 13) 14) 8 I 9 I 10 I 11 I 12 I 13 I 14
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Month of: Sept 2008 Month of: Oct 2008 Month of: Nov 2008
1 213),4/5/6;)77)%1);2/3)4)51]6;]7 41 2);3),4/516),7
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29 I 30 I 31 29 I 30 I 31 29 I 30 I 31
Contact point, if different from above:
Address:
Telephone No:
STATEMENT TAKEN BY (print name) _Jon Longman
Office I
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Royal Mail Group
Witness Statement
(Cl Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)a)
and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Statement of Lisa Jane Allen
Age if under 18 Over 18 (If over 18 insert ‘over 18’)
This statement (consisting of 1 (one) page each signed by me) is true to the best of my
knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to
prosecution if I have wilfully stated in it anything which I know to be false or do not believe
true.
Dated 42" dayof January 2009
the porcini
I am employed as a Security Advisor for Post Office Ltd and have been so employed since July
2000. I am responsible for the detection and investigation of criminal activity committed
against Post Office Ltd.
On the 14” January 2008 I attended West Byfleet Post Office!
I_------ GRO
audit shortage in
assist my colleagues, Adrian Morris and Jon Longman, with an
vestigation.
At 14.28 hours I witnessed Adrian Morris caution Mrs Seema Misra and outline her legal rights
by completing form CS001.
At 16.25 hours I assisted both Adrian Morris and Jon Longman in a search of Mrs Misra’s home
rs Misras’ husband was also present. No items
Signa G RO / Signature witnessed by
65014 (Side A) Version 5.0 05/07
Royal Malls a trading name of Royal Mail Group ple. Registered number 4138203. Registered in England and Wales. Registered office 348 Oid Street, LONDON, EC1V 9HO
1
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NOTE: This side B to be completed only when the original statement is overleaf. When this form is used to
make a copy of a statement side B is to be left blank.
Address
Home telephone No: _ Business telephone No:
Occupation:. Fraud Advisor _. Date and piace of birth:
Maiden name.: I Harford . Identity code:
Dates to be avoided. Delete dates of non availability of witness
Month of: Feb 2009 Month of: March 2009 Month of: April 2009
7/2), 3)4/5)6/7474/2/3/)/4)5)6),7
8] 9 I 10) 14/12/13) 147 8 I 9 I 10} 41} 12} 13) 14 10 14
15 I 16 I 17 I 18 I 19 I 20 I 21515 I 16 I 17 I 18 I 19 I 20 I 21 5 745 I 16 I 17 I 18 I 19 I 20 I 24
22 I 23 I 24 I 25 I 26 I 27 I 28 I 22 I 23 I 24 I 25 I 26 I 27 I 28 I 22 I 23 I 24 I 25 I 26 I 27 I 28
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Month of: May 2009 Month of: June 2009 Month of: July 2009
4 213) 4/)8 26) 7471/21,3)4;,5;6 4 2/3 ),4;),5)6 4,7
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29 I 30 I 34 29 I 30 I 34 28 I 30 I 34
Contact point, if different from above:
Address:
Telephone No:
STATEMENT TAKEN BY (print name) _Jon Longman
Office .-inwastiaation. Ment...
GRO
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Royal Mail Group
Witness Statement
(O Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3Xa)
and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Statement of Jon Longman
Age if under 18 Over 18 (If over 18 insert ‘over 18)
This statement (consisting of 2 (two) pages each signed by me) is true to the best of my
knowledge and belief and ! make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to
Dated
the
Signature
1am employed as a Security Advisor for Post Office Ltd and have been so employed since June
2000. I am responsible for the detection and investigation of criminal activity committed
against Post Office Ltd.
On the 14° January 2008 I attended West Byfleet Post Office to assist my colleague Adrian
Morris with an audit shortage that had been discovered at the Post Office. Also present at the
Post Office were a team of three Post Office auditors and another colleague, Lisa Allen.
I witnessed Adrian Morris caution the subpostmistress, Mrs Seema Misra and heard her agree
to allow a consensual house search and to attend a voluntary taped interview. I made a
notebook entry of what had occurred and this was countersigned by Mrs Misra.
{ was present when later that day at 16.25 hours a search of Mrs Misras home address,
At 17.25 hours.L. lca aon Mortis with the interview of Mrs Misra in a room above the Post
Signatur I GRO I Signature witnessed
e by
05/07
Registered number 4135203, Registered in England an:
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NOTE: This side B to be completed only when the original statement is overleaf. When this form is used to
make a copy of a statement side B is to be left blank.
Home telephone No: Business telephone No:
Occupation:. Security Advisor Date and piace of birth:
Maiden name.: Identity cod 4
Dates to be avoided. Delete dates of non availability of witness
Month of: Feb 2009 Month of: March 2009 Month of: April 2009
1/2), 3)4j;,5) 647 i ij I 4),5)6)7
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Month of: May 2009 Month of: June 2009 Month of: July 2009
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2
g
15 16
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29 I 30 I 34 23 30 I 31
Contact point, if different from above:
Address:
Telephone No: _
STATEMENT TAKEN BY (print name) Jon Longmai
Office Investigation Dent,
GRO
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3}{a) and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Continuation of statement of Jon LONGMAN
Office. Mrs Misra did not require a solicitor or Post Office friend. The interview finished at}
18.29 hours and I have signed both tape seals used in the interview, 060341 and 060342. ‘G RO
Signature } i Signature witnessed by
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Royal Mail Group
Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a)
and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Statement of Adrian MORRIS
Age if under 18 Over 18 (if over 18 insert ‘over 18)
This statement (consisting of four (4) pages each signed by me) is true to the best of my
knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to
prosecution if I have wilfully stated in it anything which I know to be false or do not believe
true.
Dated 6" dayof January 2009
the
Signature
1am employed by the Royal Mail Group and have been so for approximately twenty (20) years.
For the last six years I have held the position of Security Advisor for Post Office Ltd and as such
I am responsible for carrying out investigations into possible criminal offences committed
against the business. I also liaise and assist other law enforcement bodies with investigations
where Post Office Ltd may be the target of fraud.
On the 14™ January 2008 I was asked by my Investigation Team Manager, Paul Dawkins to
attend West Byfleet Post Office,
had received information that there was going to be a large audit shortage at this Post Office.
I arrived at West Byfleet Post Office at around 14.10 hours on the 14" January 2008 and was
joined by my colleagues, Jon Longman and Lisa Allen. There were three Post Office auditors
present at the office. They were Keith Noverre, Sue Le May and Chris Stevens. I spoke with
Keith Noverre and he informed me that Mrs Seema Misra, Subpostmistress had advised him
that the accounts would be around £50,000 to £60,000 short. Keith Noverre also informed me
that Mrs Misra had admitted to him that she had adjusted her balancing to show a clear
Signatur I
e H
Signature witnessed
by
GsOil (Side A)
Royal Mail is a treding nan al Mail ©
office: 148 Old Street, LONDON, ECLY 90
05/07
ed
. Registered number 4136203. Registered in England an
1
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NOTE: This side B to be completed only when the original statement is overleaf. When this form is used to
make a copy of a statement side B is to be left blank.
Home telephone No: _.. Business telephone No:
Occupation:. SecurityAdvisor ==: Date and piace of birth:
Maiden name.:
Dates to be avoided. Delete dates of non availability of witness
Month of: Feb 2009 Month of: March 2009 Month of: April 2009
4/2);3;,4)5;617 3) 4,516 i 314
~
a
®
~
eo] =
z 2
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Month of: May 2009 Month of: June 2009 Month of: July 2009
3) 4;,5)6)741 2,;3),4;)5,6)741 2);3),4/)5)6)7
2
8) 9 I 10) 14) 12) 13) 14) 8 I 9 I 10) 11) 12) 13) 1445 8 I 9 I 10 I 14) 12 I 13: I 14
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29 I 30 I 31 28 I 30 I 34 29 I 30 I 34
Contact point, if different from above:
Address:
Telephone No:
STATEMENT TAKEN BY (print name) _Jon Longman
Office
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a) and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Continuation of statement of Adrian MORRIS
balance.
I then introduced myself and my colleagues to Seema Misra. Mrs Misra gave me two
handwritten reports which had both been signed by her. The first report stated that the
shortage in the Post Office was caused by staff thefts which had started from about a year and
ahalf ago. Mrs Misra wanted to make good the losses and had made up two remittance
pouches in which she was going to borrow money from friends and family in order to fill them
up. I now produce this report as exhibit AM/01. The other report stated that there was a loss of
around £2,000 in one of the stock units and again this was down to staff thefts. I now produce
this report as AM/02.
Keith Noverre then handed me two remittance pouches which are used for dispatching excess
cash at Post Offices back to cash centres. The first remittance pouch had a barcode number on
it of 302124615598 and contained a remittance out slip produced on the co January 2008 and
was said to contain £13,000. There was also a return advice slip, produced on 9” January 2008
which had been datestamped and signed by Mrs Misra. The other remittance pouch had a
barcode number on of 302124615581 and contained a remittance out slip produced on 3”
January 2008 for £14,000 and a return advice slip produced on g” January 2008which had
been datestamped and signed by Mrs Misra. Neither pouch contained the cash amount that
the advice slips showed. These items have been exhibited by Keith Noverre.
At 14.28 hours I cautioned Mrs Misra in the presence of Lisa Allen and Jon Longman. I outlined
her legal rights by completeing form CS001 which I now produce as exhibit AM/03. Mrs Misra
agreed to a voluntary taped interview and consented to a search of her premises. Mrs Misra
said that she did not require a solicitor.
At 15.19 hours Seema Misra informed me that she needed to count the shop takings and
Signature
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a) and 5B, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Continuation of statement of Adrian MORRIS.
prepare the banking. Mrs Misra did this and gave me £475 in order to reduce the Post Office
Joss. I accepted this amount without prejudice to any further action being taken. I issued Mrs
Misra with a receipt for this amount.
Office friend present. However, her husband, Davinder Kumar Misra was present and witnessed
the search. The search concluded at 16.37 and no items were seized. The search forms CS005
and CS005c are now exhibited as AM/04.
At 17.25 hours on Monday 14" January 2008, in an office above West Byfleet Post Office I
commenced a tape recorded interview with Seema Misra. Also present was Jon Longman. Mrs
Misra completed the reverse side of the form CS001 reminding her of her legal rights and also
completed form CS003 indicating she did not require a Post Office friend.
The interview was concluded at 18.29 hours and consisted of two tapes. I now produce as
exhibits AM/05 and AM/06 the two master tapes with seal numbers 060341 and 060342. I
have also produced a tape summary of the interview and I produce this as exhibit AM/07.
In summary Mrs Misra informed me of the following. When Seema became subpostmistress
she kept the staff that the previous Subpostmaster had employed and let them run the office.
After a while Seema noticed that things were not quite right and reported a £1,000 loss to the
police. The losses at the Post Office continued and staff either resigned or were sacked as the
losses were uncovered. Although only a £1,000 loss had been reported to the police Seema said
that the losses actually totalled between £89,000 to £90,000. Seema said that she had been
paying money back into the Post Office to try and reduce the loss.
Signature ignature witnessed by
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Witness Statement
(CJ Act 1967, s9; MC Act 1980, ss 5A(3)(a) and 58, MC Rules 1981, r 70)
Continuation of statement of Adrian MORRIS
Seema explained that she would try and hide the shortages by not only falsifying the cash on
hand figure but also falsely declaring cash as being in remittance pouches when in fact there
was none. When I showed Seema the Branch Trading Account for period 08, dated 1s"
November 2006 to 14"" December 2006 she confirmed that the cash on hand figure of
£27,993.73 and currencies awaiting collection figure of £13,070 were both falsified. I produce
this Branch Trading Account as exhibit AM/08. I then showed Seema two further Branch
Trading Statements for Branch Trading Period 02, dated 16” May 2007 to the 16" June 2007
which I produce as exhibit AM/09 and the Branch Trading Statement for Branch Trading
Period 08, dated 14" November 2007 to the 15" December 2007 which I produce as exhibit
AM/10. Seema confirmed that the cash on hand figures and currencies awaiting collection
figures on both accounts were false. Seema confirmed that all Branch Trading Statements
since Branch Trading Period 08 (1 5" November 2006 to 14" December 2006) were false
accounts.
I asked Seema what would have happened if she had shown the correct figures on the
accounts and she said that the Post Office would have been taken away from her. Seema
acknowledged that what she had done was dishonest. Seema said that she was the only person
who completed the Branch Trading Accounts.
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