Integrity Commission probe into Walter Sofronoff ‘corruption’ allegations

The ACT Integrity Commissioner has begun a corruption investigation into the conduct of Walter Sofronoff KC while chairing a probe into Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial.

Walter Sofronoff KC. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The ACT Integrity Commissioner has begun a corruption ­investigation into the conduct of Walter Sofronoff KC while chairing an inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial.

On Monday a statement was issued saying the commissioner had “decided to commence an investigation into the impugned conduct as he suspects, on reasonable grounds, that Mr ­Sofronoff’s conduct may constitute corrupt conduct”.

“The allegations assessed by the commissioner relate to the provision by Mr Sofronoff of his report to two journalists before it was made public by the Chief Minister, allegedly in breach of the requirements of the Inquiries Act 1991 and allegedly constituting corrupt conduct under the Integrity Commission Act 2018,” the commission said. Earlier this year, a judge found Mr Sofronoff’s conduct while chairing the inquiry into the ­behaviour of former ACT chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold ­during Mr Lehrmann’s prosecution gave rise to “a reasonable apprehension of bias”.

He found Mr Sofronoff may have been “influenced” by the views of The Australian columnist Janet Albrechtsen while conducting the inquiry that ended Mr Drumgold’s career.

While the ACT Integrity Commission, as a general policy, does not confirm or deny the ­referral or investigation of corruption allegations, commissioner Michael Adams KC said when announcing the initial ­assessment in April that he had chosen to make the disclosure “in the public interest”.

Walter Sofronoff and Shane Drumgold.

“Given the extraordinary and ongoing public discourse about the conduct of the Board of ­Inquiry and the recent judgment in the Supreme Court in Drumgold v Board of Inquiry and Ors (No. 3), I have determined that it is in the public interest to disclose that the commission is assessing whether the issues call for investigation,” Mr Adams said. “I see no reputational damage arising from making this ­announcement, noting that it ­involves no adverse findings.”

Mr Drumgold launched legal action in the ACT Supreme Court against the ACT government and Mr Sofronoff’s inquiry last year, challenging findings in the inquiry’s final report that he was in breach of his duties while prosecuting allegations Mr Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House. Despite finding Mr Sofronoff’s conduct displayed the “reasonable apprehension of bias”, Acting Justice Stephen Kaye last month upheld the majority of Mr Sofronoff’s findings of misconduct against Mr Drumgold.