Before her trial in 1997 it was allegedly suggested to Kuldeep Kaur Atwal, then 46, that her cultural background could have played a role in her criminality and that she was likely to receive a custodial sentence unless she admitted to stealing from her Post Office branch.
A jury at Coventry crown court was subsequently instructed by the judge, Richard Cole, to return a not guilty verdict because of a lack of evidence, but the Post Office went on to demand that Atwal paid the money she had been falsely accused of taking. She was contractually obliged to make good on shortfalls and had to quickly sell her branch for a fraction of its market value to pay off the debt.
Speaking to the Guardian, Atwal said the auditor's alleged comment had made her angry at the time but she had felt powerless to respond.
Denne historien er fra January 25, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra January 25, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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