The defense has presented its closing statements in the trial of the former France President Nicolas Sarkozy for illegal campaign financing. 

"Nicolas Sarkozy has not committed any offense," said the lawyer for the former president. 

Speaking at the Paris Criminal Court, Gesche le Fur said: "He [Sarkozy] didn't sign any quotes, he didn't sign any invoices, he accepted whatever restrictions were asked of him. He is far from a hysterical, insatiable candidate. He is respectful of the values ​​of justice. To make mistakes is not a crime."

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The prosecution has called for Sarkozy to serve a year in prison, including a six-month suspended sentence and pay a fine of more than $4,000. 

Sarkozy, who was president from 2007-12, has consistently denied wrongdoing and said he was not aware of any false invoicing process. 

An investigation into the election spending showed a PR firm created invoices that prosecutors say were used to hide overspending on Sarkozy's failed re-election bid in 2012. 

 

The court case has been called the "Bygmalion" trial, after the PR firm that drew up the invoices. 

Sarkozy is accused of spending at least $52.2 million on his presidential campaign, which is almost double the legal limit of $27.4 million. 

The overspending was reportedly concealed by companies including Bygmalion. Thirteen other people are on trial alongside the former president. 

Jerome Lavrilleux, Sarkozy's deputy campaign chief in 2012, has publicly acknowledged overseeing the rerouting of funds paid to Bygmalion to camouflage the election costs. 

Lavrilleux says he acted on his own initiative. Two co-founders of Bygmalion are also on trial. 

One of them, Guy Alves, has publicly acknowledged the fake billing. In 2014, a lawyer for Bygmalion said the company acted under political pressure. 

The trial has been taking place at the main Paris Criminal Court. It is the former head of state's second trial of 2021 after the 66-year-old was found guilty in March of corruption and influence-peddling. 

He was given a three-year jail term, of which two years were suspended. He is appealing against that verdict.