The ACT attorney-general has confirmed allegations around police conduct in relation to the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann have been referred to the law enforcement integrity body.
It comes after a letter written by the Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold to territory police complaining about their conduct during the case was made public.
In the letter, released to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, Drumgold called for a public inquiry into “political and police conduct”.
“I am aware the matter has been referred to Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity,” ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said in a statement to 9news.com.au.
“As such, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time.”
The Lehrmann trial was aborted in late October after 12 days of deliberation due to juror misconduct.
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Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual intercourse without consent and has maintained there was no sexual contact between the pair.
Last Friday the DPP made the decision not to proceed with a second trial, citing the impact on Higgins’ mental health.
Yesterday the federal police union said it would refer the release of the letter to the Office of the Australian Information Commission and the ACT Ombudsman as a possible breach of FOI laws.
Today it was revealed the force was not consulted about the release of the letter, in a leaked email sent by ACT Police chief Neil Gaughan and obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald.
