A South Australian MP found guilty of stealing more than $430,000 from not-for-profits that helped vulnerable school children says he has no plans to step down from parliament.
A District Court jury found Troy Bell, 51, guilty of 20 counts of theft and five counts of dishonest dealings with documents after more than two days of jury deliberations in September.
He was acquitted of one count of dishonestly dealing with documents.
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In Parliament today, Speaker Leon Bignell said the Director of Public Prosecutions had informed him that Bell had lodged an appeal.
He said the Constitution Act provides for the vacation of a seat in the House of Assembly if a member is convicted of an indictable offence.
“I’ve also communicated with Mr Bell, inviting him to provide me with any information that he wishes the house to consider in determining the question of the vacancy of his seat,” he said.
“It is now open to the house to consider the question of the vacancy of Mr Bell’s seat arising by operation of section 31 of the Constitution Act 1934.”
But outside court today, the Mount Gambier independent MP said he has no plans to step down, instead hoping to see through a major project in his electorate.
“We’ve got a lot to get through,” he told reporters.
“There’s a Future Mount Gambier document we’ve been working on for a couple of years … I’m hoping to complete that on behalf of my community, but processes will play out.”
He said his mental health was a factor in the court process.
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“It’s always tough, and anyone who goes through this type of process, you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t find it confronting and very difficult. I’ve always tried to front up and do the right thing, but it is a factor for sure.”
He said he couldn’t speak about his appeal “even though I’d really like to”.
“I’m obviously very confident and very hopeful, but there’s a process to go through and I’m very respectful of that court process,” he said.
“There was a very difficult job that the jury had in front of them but I look forward to clearing my name.”
The trial, which began in June, heard evidence that Bell abused his position as an Education Department employee to steal more than $430,000 meant to help vulnerable high school students and used it to fund property investments and pay debts.
Much of the trial focused on the movement of money between bank accounts and included five days of evidence from a forensic accountant.
In the District Court today, Nick Healy, for Bell, asked for sentencing submissions to be heard next February to allow time for a forensic psychologist to prepare a report on Bell.
Judge Rauf Soulio ordered Bell to return to court for sentencing submissions on January 31, ahead of sentencing later in the year.
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