Fraser Ellis was today handed a 10-month jail term that was suspended on condition of a 12-month good behaviour bond.
In sentencing, a magistrate said Ellis's crimes were "not mistakes" but "deliberate falsehoods" involving public money.
Mr Smart said the "fraudulently received" $4,676 in dishonest claims relating to 20 nights between December 5, 2018, and May 1, 2020, and noted the money had been repaid.
Ellis was found guilty of four counts of deception in 2024 following a trial but was acquitted of a further 19 counts.
Reading from his handwritten remarks, Mr Smart said that since Ellis lost his seat at the March state election, the former MP had applied for other jobs without success and now worked for his father in a casual role.
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Summarized version
Reading from his handwritten remarks, Mr Smart said since Ellis lost his seat at the March state election, the former MP had applied for other jobs without success and now worked for his father in a casual role.
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The article, shortened and in plain language
Fraser Ellis was today handed a 10-month jail term that was suspended on condition of a 12-month good behaviour bond.
The MP deliberately rorted a parliamentary allowance and was found guilty of seven counts of deception.
In sentencing, a magistrate said Ellis's crimes were "not mistakes" but "deliberate falsehoods" involving public money.
Former South Australian MP Fraser Ellis has avoided jail for deliberately rorting a parliamentary allowance, but maintains his actions showed a "casualness" or "recklessness" and "certainly not criminality".
In sentencing, Magistrate Simon Smart said Ellis had misused the Country Members Allowance — an accommodation fund used by regional MPs who are needed to travel for parliamentary duties.
Mr Smart said the "fraudulently received" $4,676 in dishonest claims relating to 20 nights between December 5, 2018, and May 1, 2020, and noted the money had been repaid.
At the time of the offending Ellis was a Liberal MP, but after the allegations became public in 2021 he quit the party to become an independent.
Ellis was found guilty of four counts of deception in 2024 following a trial but was acquitted of a further 19 counts.
The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed against those acquittals and three were replaced with convictions by the Court of Appeal in July this year.
Reading from his handwritten remarks, Mr Smart said that since Ellis lost his seat at the March state election, the former MP had applied for other jobs without success and now worked for his father in a casual role.
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