A prosecutor has told an Adelaide court it is "unsatisfactory" that a recently re-elected independent MP facing deception charges has not appeared in court.
Mount Gambier state MP Troy Bell has been charged with 52 counts of deception over his claims to the Country Members Accommodation Allowance between 2015 and 2020.
Court documents allege he collected $54,424 over five years by deceiving staff at South Australia's Parliament — who approved the allowance — "by falsely claiming he was entitled to be paid".
Mr Bell did not appear in court for his first appearance in January, which was adjourned, and prosecutor Angas van Balen told the Adelaide Magistrates Court today he expected Mr Bell to be in attendance this time.
"We consider it unsatisfactory that Mr Bell hasn't arrived in person," Mr van Balen told the court.
"It was our intention that he would enter into a simple bail [agreement].
"On the future occasion, we would expect Mr Bell to appear in person at that time considering it appears he hasn't today."
Mr Bell's lawyer, Rachael Shaw, told the court prosecutors had told her yesterday the matter would "run procedurally".
The matter will return to court in May.
Mr Bell was re-elected on Saturday with a swing towards him.
Bell charged last year
Mr Bell was charged in December, 2021.
He was the second MP to face criminal charges after Fraser Ellis over the alleged misuse of the allowance.
Both former Liberal MPs were returned as independents at the SA election on Saturday.
Mr Bell has denied any wrongdoing.
