A defiant Nicolas Sarkozy told a Paris court on Thursday that allegations of illegal Libyan financing of his successful 2007 presidential bid were a "conspiracy" and that not a single cent of Libyan cash would ever be found in his campaign.

The former French president has faced several legal cases since leaving office, but accusations that he received money for his 2007 election from Libyan authorities have been particularly damaging.

A trial has opened of France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy and 11 co-defendants over alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of then-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has gone on trial in Paris, accused of taking millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 election campaign.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who has already been convicted in two other cases, faces charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds and criminal association,

France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy is standing trial over allegations of having received millions of euros in illegal financing from Libya’s late leader Muammar Gaddafi for his successful 2007 presidential bid.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at a Paris courthouse on Monday for the start of his trial over alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of then-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.