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THE REVEREND Merrick 'Al' Miller was a picture of defiance as he emerged from the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) offices in downtown Kingston yesterday evening, hours after being grilled by police sleuths about his negotiations with alleged gangster Christopher Coke, who was held along with the pastor on Tuesday afternoon.

Miller, a prominent cleric who pastors the Fellowship Tabernacle church, was quizzed after he turned himself in to the police yesterday.

Miller, who was questioned in the presence of his lawyers, including lead attorney Wentworth Charles, is to head back to OCID today to face more questions from investigators.

The minister, who also heads the parastatal National Transformation Programme, could not be reached for comment late yesterday, as calls to his cellular telephone went unanswered.

However, police spokesman Karl Angell told The Gleaner that no decision would be taken about possible charges until further interrogation is done.

Miller arrived at OCID's offices shortly after2 p.m. and shook hands with Angell and police Inspector Steve Brown before he was ushered inside.

Minutes earlier, Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair stopped by OCID's offices, but declined to say why he was there.

Person of interest

The police asked Miller to turn himself in on Tuesday, hours after Coke was taken away from his car during a dragnet along Mandela Highway.

A police statement released shortly after Coke's arrest described Miller as "a major person of interest in a matter currently being investigated".

Miller explained that he was taking Coke to the United States Embassy in Liguanea, St Andrew, where the accused drug kingpin wanted to turn himself in.

Coke was indicted on drug and gun charges in the United States last year.

Police Commissioner Owen Ellington hinted on Tuesday that Miller could be in hot water for trying to circumvent local authorities.

Ellington said his office was also investigating why Miller was not detained at the scene.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com