BRUCE Lehrmann will lodge a multimillion-dollar claim for compensation against the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, “The Australian” is reporting.  

The government is considering the findings of the Sofronoff Inquiry into the prosecution for rape of Lehrmann.

Commissioner Walter Sofronoff delivered his report on Monday, but Chief Minister Andrew Barr says it will not be released publicly for a month as the government determines how to deal with what are likely to be seriously adverse findings against ACT chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold.

He says the ACT government will consider the report “through a proper cabinet process” that would take three to four weeks, with the Legislative Assembly “updated” at the end of ­August.

Drumgold has been on leave since May and is not due to return until the end of August.

“The Australian” quotes Lehrmann as saying if the report “finds the director acted with malice or against his duties as DPP and as an officer of the court, I will be considering a multimillion claim for damages and compensation from the ODPP and the ACT government.”

Mr Lehrmann told the paper that he had appointed solicitors and a team of barristers to provide advice and was considering options in anticipation of the report being made public.

At the weekend Lehrmann slammed the government’s decision to keep secret the findings of an inquiry into his abandoned prosecution.

In an Instagram post relating to the revelations, he writes: “Absolute disgrace! I remember someone saying that sunlight is the best disinfectant… The Drumgold protection racket continues. The chief minister should hang his head in shame.”

His trial was aborted in October due to jury misconduct and Drumgold later dropped the charges amid concerns about the impact a second trial could have on Ms Higgins’ mental health.

No reasonable reason to delay Sofronoff Inquiry findings