Troy Bell, the former South Australian state MP for Mount Gambier, who has already been convicted of fraud and theft offences, is now facing a further 52 charges of deception.Â
The charges, which were previously subject to a secrecy order, allege that Bell misused the Country Members Allowance scheme between 2015 and 2020.Â
It is alleged he claimed more than $50,000 of taxpayers’ money through false claims for overnight stays to which he was not entitled.
Bell has previously vigorously denied these charges.
The deception charges were kept confidential while Bell stood trial for separate theft and fraud offences.Â
A District Court jury found him guilty of those offences late last year, effectively ending his career.Â
Bell formally resigned from parliament earlier this week.
Bell is scheduled to be sentenced for the initial theft and fraud convictions on October 21.Â
The deception charges are expected to be brought before the Magistrates Court following that sentencing.
