I tried to kill myself 3 times & my marriage broke down when I was jailed in Post Office scandal – I was shamed
A FORMER postmaster has revealed how he tried to take his own life three times after he was accused of stealing thousands from the Post Office.
Parmod Kalia’s marriage broke down and he was sent to prison for six months after being wrongly convicted.
The dad even gave the Post Office £22,000 of his own money to balance the books after dodgy Horizon software showed cash was missing.
Emotional Parmod has now opened up about the scandal – saying the last 21 years of his life has been ripped from him as a result.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: “It’s destroyed me mentally, I have just cooped it up within myself – a buildup of not knowing what it was, no one to talk to, no one to discuss it with.
“I have lost 21 years of my life, no earning capacity. I have had a breakdown with my family, my wife, my children, shame in the community.
“I have attempted suicide on three occasions, it’s that as well.”
Parmod was jailed for six months after being falsely accused of stealing £22,000.
His name was eventually cleared 20 years later but he is still waiting for compensation.
More than 700 Post Office branch managers were convicted after the faulty software made it look like money was missing from their shops.
Just 93 have cleared their names in court – leaving hundreds of innocent victims unable to claim compensation.
Tragically, at least four branch managers took their own lives after being wrongly accused, with a further 60 dying before they could clear their names.
The scandal has been thrust back into the spotlight following ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office.
Around 130 people have come forward since the show aired.
Princess Kate and her family backed their local shopkeeper Hasmukh Shingadia when he was also falsely accused.
He told The Sun how the Middletons attended a celebratory tea party at Bucklebury memorial hall when his conviction was overturned.
Hasmukh said: “They continued to come into my shop and spend money here. Even after Kate got engaged she’d still pop in.
“Not everybody did that and some locals shunned me.”
Yesterday, ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells handed back her CBE with immediate effect after one million signed a petition.
An independent public inquiry is continuing but no one has been yet brought to justice.
The postal services minister Kevin Hollinrake has urged anyone effected to come forward, promising processes would be “quick”.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
