Mount Gambier MP Troy Stephen Bell asks District Court judge to delay sentencing

An MP who stole more than $400,000 from underprivileged youths has begged a judge to delay sentencing until after his appeal – so his seat in parliament is safe.

A convicted thieving politician has pleaded to have his sentencing delayed until after an appeal date because if he is sentenced before, his seat in parliament would be vacated – triggering a by-election, a court has heard.

Mount Gambier MP Troy Stephen Bell appeared in the District Court on Thursday in front of Judge Rauf Soulio after lodging an appeal following the guilty verdict handed down by a jury in September.

Bell was found guilty of 20 counts of theft and five counts of dishonest dealings with documents after more than two days of deliberations. He was acquitted of one count of dishonestly dealing with documents.

Nicholas Healy, for Bell, told the court if his client was imprisoned prior to his March 13 appeal date, “parliament’s hand would be forced”.

Bell and his counsel Nicholas Healy (right) leave the District Court. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

“In Mr Bell’s case, should sentence be passed – and indeed if that sentence results in a sentence of imprisonment – a by-election will automatically be triggered on the basis that he is absent from parliament,” Mr Healy said.

“If Mr Bell is imprisoned, he’s not in a position to serve his constituents.

“If Mr Bell is then successful on his appeal and a by-election has been automatically triggered, and someone else then occupies his seat, he has no recourse to reclaim that seat.”

In September, after a three-month trial and two days of deliberating, a 12-person jury found Bell guilty of stealing more than $400,000 from the not-for-profit Independent Learning Centre (ILC) and using the money on home renovations, flights to Los Angeles and to offset his mortgage.

On Thursday, prosecutor Jemma Litster said she was opposed to Mr Bell’s application and urged Judge Soulio to “proceed to sentence”.

Judge Soulio adjourned the matter to next year, where he will make a decision on whether to proceed with sentencing submissions.

Outside court, Bell said he couldn’t “say anything about” his appeal but told media the “process was playing out”.

“We’ll see where it goes,” he said. “I’m instructed not to say anything. Whilst the appeal’s on foot, unfortunately I can’t make any comments.”

Originally published as Mount Gambier MP Troy Stephen Bell asks District Court judge to delay sentencing