South Australia: Thieving MP Tory Bell to step down after failing in fraud appeal

A state MP will step down from parliament after a court dismissed his appeal against convictions for stealing $430,000 from not-for-profits meant to help vulnerable school children.

Last September, a South Australian District Court jury found Troy Bell guilty of 20 counts of theft and five aggravated counts of dishonest dealings, committed between 2009 and 2013.

On Thursday, the Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed the 51-year-old’s appeal against those convictions, meaning sentencing on those charges can now proceed.

Outside court, Mr Bell appeared shocked as he said he would consider other avenues of appeal after reading the court’s judgment.

“Obviously I’ll be standing down as the member for Mt Gambier and I’ll inform the parliament of that in the next coming days,” he said.

“There’s lots of good stuff in there (the appeal) in terms of … some miscarriage of justice, but overall, the court has ruled that it wasn’t significant.”

Judge Rauf Soulio heard sentencing submissions in March and reserved his decision pending the outcome of the appeal.

He has previously said proceeding to sentence “may well require (Bell) to be expelled from the house and a by-election conducted” .

Bell abused his position as an Education Department employee to steal $430,000 from not-for-profits that helped vulnerable school children, and used it to fund home renovations, flights to Los Angeles and to offset his mortgage.

The maximum penalty for a theft charge is 10 years’ jail, while an aggravated offence of dishonest dealings with documents carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.

“It’s a bit surreal. I always try to do the best I can,” Mr Bell said after the appeal was rejected.

He was “bitterly disappointed” by the result “but I’ve got to deal with it”.

Bell has represented the seat since 2014. He quit the Liberal Party and became an independent after he was charged in 2017.

Asked if the appeal dismissal would be a blow to his career, Bell said “that might be an understatement”.

“It’s been a long journey and I’m tired. I think my family are tired, perhaps the community are tired. I’m (almost) 52, but I look 62.”

During sentencing submissions, Bell’s lawyer Nick Healy said his client was anxious and depressed and had “suffered considerably” through the court process, which had taken a toll on his relationship.

“He will be forced into bankruptcy if jailed,” Mr Healy said.

Premier Peter Malinauskas told the ABC he understood a final decision on whether a by-election will be held was up to Speaker Leon Bignell, who would consider the advice of the Electoral Commission.

SA’s next state election is in March 2026.

Bell will be sentenced on a date to be set.