The ACT Integrity Commission has opened an investigation into Hon Walter Sofronoff KC over his conduct as chair of the inquiry into the criminal trial of Bruce Lehrmann and whether he broke the law by leaking information to the media.
In April, the Commission began examining allegations about Mr Sofronoff’s conduct during its investigation into former ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold’s handling of the Bruce Lehrmann criminal trial.
Lehrmann was charged with the alleged 2019 rape of political staffer Brittany Higgins in Parliament and has pleaded not guilty.
The trial was aborted due to jury misconduct and the charges were dropped.
In 2023, Sofronoff provided a preliminary report of his board of inquiry’s findings to some media outlets prior to their official handover to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
The conduct of Commissioner Walter Sofronoff’s investigation will come under scrutiny by the ACT Integrity Commission
These findings were highly critical of Mr. Drumgold and resulted in his dismissal.
The controversial publication of the report, as well as extensive correspondence between Mr Sofronoff and The Australian newspaper columnist Janet Albrechtsen, led to further litigation between Mr Drumgold and Mr Sofronoff in the ACT Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court ruling found that Sofronoff’s correspondences “gave rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias” against Drumgold.
“The Commissioner…has decided to launch an investigation into the disputed conduct because he suspects, on reasonable grounds, that Mr Sofronoff’s conduct may constitute corrupt conduct,” reads a statement from the ACT Integrity Commission.
Integrity Commission to examine Walter Sofronoff KC’s handling of Bruce Lehrmann criminal trial (right)
«The allegations assessed by the Commissioner concern Mr. Sofronoff’s delivery of his report to two journalists before the Chief Minister made it public.
“As the investigation is ongoing, the Commission will not be making any further public comments at this time.”
The former Queensland judge will be investigated by Michael Adams KC, the territory’s integrity commissioner.
At the center of the investigation, Adams will determine whether prematurely providing the report to the media was a breach of the requirements of the Investigations Act 1991 and whether it constitutes corrupt conduct under the Integrity Commission Act 2018.
Sofronoff did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The findings of Sofronoff’s investigation ultimately led to the resignation of ACT DPP Shane Drumgold (pictured).
