An independent Member of Parliament (MP) has been found guilty of 20 counts of theft following a three-month trial. Troy Stephen Bell, 51, the representative for Mount Gambier, pleaded not guilty to the theft charges and six counts of dishonest document handling when the trial commenced in June.
On Thursday, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts except two theft charges, where a majority decision was reached. After more than two days of deliberation, the jury delivered its verdicts.
Prosecutors argued that Bell exploited his role as an employee with the Department for Education to embezzle over $430,000 from not-for-profit educational organizations between 2009 and 2013. They claimed the funds, meant to support disengaged and vulnerable high school students, were misused to finance home renovations and pay off credit card debts.
Defense attorneys described the prosecution’s case as disorganized and flawed. Prosecutor Jemma Litster highlighted that Bell, who helped establish the Independent Learning Centre (ILC) in Mount Gambier in 2006, had allegedly stolen funds intended for not-for-profit groups invoiced through Millicent High School.
Litster noted that Bell’s favorable reputation contributed to the undetected nature of his fraud for an extended period. Evidence presented during the trial included an intercepted phone call in which Bell sought help from former Liberal leader Isobel Redmond for legal representation.
The alleged misconduct reportedly ceased in 2013 when Bell left the education sector to enter politics. He won the March 2014 election as a Liberal candidate but left the party after being charged in 2017. He has since been re-elected as an independent member for Mount Gambier in 2018 and 2022.
Bell’s defense barrister, Nick Healy, argued that the ILC thrived under Bell’s leadership and contended it was unreasonable to suggest he would steal from a program that had a positive impact on students. He accused the prosecution of lacking coherence and clarity in their case.
Following the verdict, Bell refrained from commenting as he exited the courthouse, and Healy also declined to speak on behalf of his client. Judge Rauf Soulio commended the jury for their dedication throughout the lengthy trial and excused them from future jury duty.
Bell will be sentenced at a later date. The Liberal Party’s South Australian director, Alex Hyde, stated that Bell retains the right to appeal, and the party will withhold comments until the legal process concludes.
