The Australian Capital Territory’s director of public prosecutions, Shane Drumgold, is on leave as an inquiry into the handling of a case against the former Liberal staff member Bruce Lehrmann continues.
The ACT government executive has appointed Anthony Williamson, who was the deputy DPP, to act in the role of the territory’s top prosecutor until 13 June.
An ACT government spokesperson said Drumgold had asked to take leave.
The ACT attorney general, Shane Rattenbury, told ABC Radio Drumgold would be on leave for four weeks and was expected to return in mid-June.
“In terms of the overall office of the director of public prosecutions, it’s business as usual,” he said.
Drumgold has come under pressure after questioning at the independent inquiry into how the ACT justice system handled rape allegations made against Lehrmann by another ex-Liberal staffer, Brittany Higgins.
The charges against Lehrmann, who denied the allegations, were dropped last year.
Drumgold last week told the inquiry his team had “closed ranks” against police because they believed officers had lost objectivity in the matter.
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He has served as DPP since January 2019 and worked at the DPP since 2002.
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This article was amended on 18 May, 2023. A previous version incorrectly stated Shane Drumgold was stood down. He is taking a period of voluntary leave.
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