South Australian MP Troy Bell, who is accused of misappropriating funds, says he will make an announcement soon about his political career.
The Mount Gambier-based MP resigned from the Liberal Party in August after he was charged with allegedly misappropriating more than $2 million of taxpayers' money.
He has been representing the south-east electorate as an independent since August, but has not yet said if he plans to contest next year's state election.
Mr Bell spoke briefly with reporters after emerging from his latest court appearance in Mount Gambier on Monday.
"This is going to be a very long journey, I feel, and that will have no bearing on whether I run or not," he said.
"I will be making that decision and announcing that decision very shortly.
"I won't keep the people of Mount Gambier waiting too long — now that we're a little further progressed I can make an informed decision."
In the Magistrates Court, Mr Bell's bail conditions were altered to let him leave the state without police permission if any trip is for less than seven days.
The former Liberal was excused from the next scheduled hearing in mid-February.
