Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell faces court over almost half a million dollars of missing funds – as trial is told the final sum could be even higher

South Australian MP Troy Bell transferred money from his personal bank accounts to the accounts of non-profit organisations he is suspected of stealing, but a court heard that a “conservatively estimated” $436,000 has not been repaid.

The independent member for Mount Gambier in South Australia’s south-east is due to appear in the South Australian District Court after pleading not guilty to 20 charges of theft and six charges of dishonest dealing with documents, allegedly committed between 2009 and 2013.

Since the trial began on June 18, a jury has heard evidence showing that Mr Bell, 50, abused his position as an employee of the Department of Education to steal money meant to help vulnerable high school students.

Instead, he used it to finance real estate investments and pay off debts.

Much of the trial focused on the movement of money between bank accounts and included five days of evidence from a forensic accountant.

Prosecutor Jemma Litster began her closing address on Monday by saying there was no doubt that Mr Bell was a well-liked man. There was evidence that his personality and the way he dealt with people inspired trust and goodwill.

“It is the prosecutor who alleges that he abused that trust and goodwill. That is one of the reasons why his fraud went undetected for so long,” she said.

“It’s just human nature. I think people are less likely to challenge or question the behavior of someone they like or admire.”

It is alleged that Mr Bell stole money that was meant to support high school students at the Independent Learning Centre in Mount Gambier, a branch of Millicent High School, to help students who had dropped out of school.

Ms Litster informed the court that the funds were deposited or transferred into accounts personally opened by Mr Bell in the name of the ILC.

He had received these funds on behalf of two non-profit organisations, the South-East Education and Training Association and the Limestone Coast Education and Training Association.

On Monday, she said his alleged offence took place “out of sight” and “did not damage the trust of those around him”.

“No one who dealt with him knew what he was doing with the LCETA and SEETA money that was transferred to the Bell accounts,” she said.

She said the evidence showed that even Bell’s wife, Michaela, was not fully aware of his wrongdoing and that he tried to “appease” her through phone taps in court.

It is alleged that Bell accepted money intended for the Independent Learning Centre in Mount Gambier, a branch of Millicent High School which helps disengaged pupils who have returned to study.

“I suspect he just wanted to make it clear to her that her husband was not a criminal and that their family would be okay,” Ms. Litster said.

She said the reason money had been transferred “backwards” between Mr Bell’s personal accounts and the accounts of the non-profit organisations was “obvious”.

“The suspect had to pay back money to keep the programs running, otherwise they would have ground to a halt and his system would have been further exposed,” she said.

“There was still $436,023 that went out and didn’t come back. And members of the jury, that was a conservative calculation, I suggest, in Mr. Bell’s favor — the accountant didn’t include certain invoices.”

The trial, led by Judge Rauf Soulio, continues.