Mount Gambier MP Troy Stephen Bell to appear in court for sentencing submissions despite impending appeal
An MP who stole money from the education of at-risk kids will be forced to face court for sentencing submissions – but a judge wants to know the cost of replacing him.
In a major twist, a thieving politician will face a court as part of his sentencing process despite pleading with a judge to delay the matter until after his appeal – out of fear he will lose his seat in parliament.
Mount Gambier MP Troy Stephen Bell appeared in the District Court on Friday in front of Judge Rauf Soulio, who was due to make a decision on whether to proceed with sentencing submissions as normal, or until after Bell’s appeal verdict had been handed down.
Judge Soulio said he would take a “hybrid approach” and set the matter for submissions, but reserve his decision on sentencing subject to defence counsel providing information on how much money a by-election would cost.
A jail sentence for Bell would automatically trigger a by-election and he would lose his seat in parliament – regardless of whether his appeal is successful.
“The application to stay is primarily based on the fact that the defendant is an elected member of parliament in the lower house and, amongst other things, proceeding with the proposed sentence may well require him to be expelled from the house and a by-election conducted,” Judge Soulio said.
“I’ve not been provided with any information on the cost or inconvenience of conducting a by-election (but) it would be unnecessary were the appeal to succeed.
“Here I propose to take a hybrid approach and set the matter for submissions. Given the complexity of the matter and the material which I anticipate will be put before me, I will reserve my decision as to sentence in any event.
“If I’m provided further information as to the actual cost and scope of the task of holding a by-election, then I may revisit this interim ruling.”
Last 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.
Outside court on Friday, Bell said he “could not make any comment at this stage” and was “proceeding with the process”.
He will return to court in March for submissions – a week after a hearing is scheduled for his appeal.
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Originally published as Mount Gambier MP Troy Stephen Bell to appear in court for sentencing submissions despite impending appeal
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