Paul Pisasale's politician-like non-answers at his extortion trial should undermine the jury's confidence in him, prosecutors say.
The former Ipswich mayor is on trial over allegations he dishonestly pursued a Sydney taxi driver for up to $10,000 on behalf of a Singaporean escort.
Pisasale testified he demanded money from Xin because it was "rightfully owed" to Xin's former partner Yutian Li, a Singaporean woman the former politician made friends with after receiving "sexual services".
He testified his attempts to extract money from Xin were to reimburse Yutian, who had suffered financial losses when she uprooted her life to be with him only for their relationship to fail.
He also believed Xin owed her the cost of the private investigation to uncover that he was married during the relationship.
But the Crown says there was no evidence of an investigation and Yutian and Pisasale were motivated by a desire to get money for her to stay in Australia.
"Yutian Li was in a situation where she needed money," crown prosecutor Sarah Farnden said.
"It seems she didn't want to work as an escort any longer or, at the very least, Mr Pisasale didn't want her to have to work as an escort any longer.
"(It) was decided that Xin Li was a potential source to get some money from."
Xin owed Yutian nothing because "having hurt feelings, being lied to (and) being cheated on doesn't mean your ex owes you any money", Ms Farnden said.
Pisasale has been described by his defence barrister Lincoln Crowley as a "sucker for a damsel in distress" because he believed Yutian's story due to her sad emotional state.
In giving evidence, Pisasale repeatedly said Yutian's life had been destroyed after being wronged by Xin.
"Mr Pisasale, you might have thought, had an agenda in his evidence. He had an agenda that he was selling," Ms Farnden said.
"He gave evidence, you might have thought, like the politician that he was.
"In true politician style, what he did was avoid giving an answer that was unfavourable to the position that he wanted to adopt."
Pisasale pretended to be a private investigator in a series of phone calls in which he told Xin he needed to pay between $5000 and $10,000, the court has heard.
Pisasale and Yutian have pleaded not guilty to two counts of extortion.
Ipswich laywer Cameron James McKenzie has also pleaded not guilty to extortion over an allegation he wrote to Xin demanding money and threatening court action at the request of Pisasale.
Closing arguments in the Brisbane District Court trial concluded on Monday.
Judge Brad Farr will begin summing up the trial to the jury on Tuesday.
Australian Associated Press
