MEMBER for Mount Gambier Troy Bell will apply for a stay of proceedings in the Adelaide District Court before his trial goes ahead later this month.
Facing 20 counts of theft and six counts of dishonestly dealing with documents, the stay application is listed for tomorrow and will be heard over five days.
District court criminal rules state that a pre-trial application can be submitted “to quash or stay a proceeding on the ground of an abuse of process or otherwise”.
The case against Mr Bell involves allegations of the theft of more than $800,000, while uncharged acts total at least $1.4m.
Mr Bell officially pleaded not guilty to the charges in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in June 2018.
Court proceedings have now exceeded three years since the charges were first laid against Mr Bell in May 2017.
The charges initially saw Bell resign from the Liberal Party and continue serving the Mount Gambier electorate as an Independent member.
He still continues to serve the community after winning the 2018 State election as an Independent candidate, despite the looming court proceedings.
