Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell found guilty: What happens next in his political career

More than seven years after he was first charged, Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell has been found guilty. But what comes next for his political career?

• Troy Bell guilty of stealing from kids

More than seven years after he was first accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars meant for the education of vulnerable and at-risk kids, Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell has been found guilty.

Late on Thursday, after a three-month trial, a 12-person jury found Mr Bell guilty of 20 counts of theft and five counts of dishonestly dealing with documents.

He has maintained his innocence and has the right to appeal – but what comes next for his political career?

According to the state’s constitution, the parliament must make a determination about whether Mr Bell can remain in his role.

That could depend on whether he proceeds with an appeal, and the view taken by parliament about whether he should be allowed to stay on while that process takes place.

Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

If he is stood down – or if he makes the decision to resign – a by-election would be triggered in his South East electorate.

In that scenario, the Liberals would be favoured to win back the seat they lost when Mr Bell resigned from the party in 2017, shortly after charges against him were first laid.

Their candidate would likely be Ben Hood, who contested the seat for the party in 2022 before he was appointed to fill a casual vacancy in the upper house.

The Liberals have not been able gain ground in Mount Gambier while Mr Bell, who was first elected in 2014, has been the sitting MP.

Results from the two elections held since he was charged indicated the accusations did not have a significant effect on his standing among voters.

He contested the 2018 state election as an independent and won with a 10.3 per cent margin, which he increased by nearly three per cent at the 2022 election.

The charges were first laid in August 2017 following an investigation by the state’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

It was alleged Mr Bell took more than $400,000 from the not-for-profit Independent Learning Centre (ILC) and used the money on home renovations, flights to Los Angeles and to offset his mortgage.

Thursday’s verdict marked also a success for the ICAC, which has been criticised at various stages over its handling of Mr Bell’s case. It has also been criticised over its lack of successful prosecutions.

Originally published as Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell found guilty: What happens next in his political career