Narcotics officers bungled their investigation of an alleged drug smuggler, defence lawyer Victoria Pearman suggested yesterday.

Now the jury is set to decide the facts in the trial of Ghanaian Oshuman Shehu, who denies importing and possessing 344.1 grammes of cocaine.

Shehu?s main defence in the six day trial has been that he thought he was carrying gold dust in his stomach, not cocaine.

The court heard earlier that Shehu excreted 45 red pellets containing cocaine while detained at the King Edward VI Memorial Hospital for three days.

Defence closed its case yesterday and the jury is expected to deliver a verdict tomorrow.

Crown counsel Oonagh Vaucrossen established in cross examination of the defendant that he did not correct parts of his Police statement even though he was given the chance to.

Shehu said that parts of the statement were inaccurate.

Ms Vaucrossen also pointed out that the reason the doctors at the hospital did not give Shehu food or water while he was passing the pellets was for his own safety.

The court heard that the doctors asked Shehu what drug he had swallowed so they could know how to treat it and that he could die if he did not tell them.

Shehu said he told them he had not swallowed any drugs.

Ms Vaucrossen asked why he did not tell them he had swallowed gold dust and he replied that he told one of the Police officers while at the hospital.

Shehu added that in his native country (Africa) one did not speak unless spoken to and that was because it was considered respectful to operate that way.

Earlier in the trial the court heard that Shehu was to deliver what he believed was gold dust to Det. Con. Devon Richardson at the Hamilton Police Station and that the gold was for a man named Roger.

Shehu said he was confused when Det. Con. Richardson showed up at the hospital to guard him while he passed the pellets.

He told the court that when he divulged the information to Det. Con. Leroy Mathurin about delivering the gold to Det. Con. Richardson, Det. Con. Mathurin told him not to say anything to anyone because Det. Con. Richardson was already being investigated.

Ms Vaucrossen asked Shehu if he thought it was strange that he was told to deliver the gold dust to the Hamilton Police Station.

He replied that he was just following his instructions and that he understood Roger was out of town so that is why he was told to give the gold to Det. Con. Richardson.

Ms Pearman asked Shehu if he read over his Police statement or if it was read to him.

He told the court that the Police read over his statement to him and that he never read it.

Shehu said he would never swallow drugs.

?I do not smoke or drink ? I am not a saint but I would never swallow drugs,? he said.

In the Crown?s closing Ms Vaucrossen said that the prosecution?s case was simply that Shehu knew he was carrying cocaine.

She said that most of the defendant?s evidence was a ?fabrication? and that he was ?outsmarted? by Police who ?found him out?.

Ms Vaucrossen said: ?You heard Det. Con. Richardson say she was mortified that her name was mentioned.? She added that Det. Con. Richardson explained that she had nothing to do with this case and that it made her upset.

Ms Vaucrossen told the jury that the defendant said he was an expert because he told them he swallowed gold from gold mines in Ghana numerous times.

She said that in Bermuda it would be considered stealing and dishonest. Earlier in the trial he said that he believed he was carrying gold dust in his stomach, not cocaine.

Ms Vaucrossen questioned whether or not Shehu?s story about delivering the pellets to the Hamilton Police Station was ?credible?.

?If he had got through Customs I bet it (cocaine) would not have gone to the Hamilton Police Station,? she said.

Ms Pearman questioned why the Police did not ask Shehu anything about the case while at the hospital and asked the jury: ?What investigation did they do??

She pointed out that the Police did not check any of the information Shehu gave them including Sean Brown, the man Shehu said sent him to Bermuda.

Ms Pearman also questioned the credibility of Det. Con. Richardson?s testimony.

She pointed out how Shehu was ?unshaken? during his cross examination because he was ?telling the truth?.

Ms Pearman said to the jury that the Crown had failed to prove its case and that in the interest of the law the jury should find him not guilty and send him home to his family.

The trial will continue tomorrow when Puisne Judge Ian Kawaley will sum up the evidence to jurors, who will then deliver the verdict.