Fraser Ellis gets jail (suspended) for $4,676 parliamentary expense fraud
Former Liberal MP found guilty of fraudulently claiming accommodation expenses. He was sentenced to 10 months jail on a good behaviour bond.
Fraser Ellis, 34, was found guilty of fraudulently claiming $4,676 from his parliamentary accommodation allowance. The claims covered 20 nights between December 2018 and May 2020.
An Adelaide magistrate ruled the claims were deliberate falsehoods, not mistakes. Ellis was sentenced to 10 months in prison on Thursday.
The sentence was suspended on condition he enter a good behaviour bond. Outside court, Ellis said his paperwork was casual and reckless.
He insisted he did not act criminally. He left the Liberal Party when charges were laid.
He kept his Narungga seat as an independent. He lost his regional seat to One Nation's Chantelle Thomas in March's South Australian election.
- 34
- Age
- $4,676
- Amount fraudulently claimed
- 20
- Nights falsely claimed
- 10 months, suspended
- Sentence
Why it mattersParliamentary honour systems depend on MPs' honesty. This case shows that courts are now holding politicians accountable for false claims.
