The South Australian MP accused of misappropriating more than $2 million of public funds has pleaded not guilty at a hearing in Mount Gambier today.
The independent member for Mount Gambier, Troy Bell, denied all the charges, which consist of 20 counts of theft and six counts of dishonestly dealing with documents.
The charges related to the time the former teacher spent running an independent learning centre in Mount Gambier between 2009 and 2013.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to clear my name. Today's just another step in the process of doing that. Until October — when it'll come up again — it's business as usual as far as I'm concerned," Mr Bell said.
Mr Bell strenuously denied any wrongdoing since being charged.
He resigned from the Liberal party in August last year but has continued as an independent MP.
The MP's lawyer, Heidi Hancock, conceded there was a case to answer.
The case will return to court on October 9.
Mr Bell won Mount Gambier at the last election with 60.3 per cent of the two-party preferred vote, against the Liberal's Craig Marsh.
The electorate is the south-east corner of South Australia, with the city of Mount Gambier being its main population centre.
