Hamilton cop blames 'terrible bookkeeping' for money questions at corruption trial

Hamilton police officer Craig Ruthowskysays hewas a really bad bookkeeper and he wants the jury to know it.

Ruthowskyreturned to the witness box for a fifth day in a Toronto courtroom Monday, as the trial into his misconduct allegations continues.

The 44-year-oldis accused of selling police secrets and protection for $20,000 monthly payments from a cadre of drug dealers.

Ruthowsky, a 17-year-veteran of Hamilton police, has pleaded not guilty in Superior Court in Toronto to charges of bribery, attempting to obstruct justice, trafficking cocaine, criminal breach of trust, and conspiring to traffic marijuana.

All last week, Ruthowsky was taking questions from his lawyer. Now, he's fielding questions from the Crown.

I'm suggesting that float was the perfect cover for receiving bribes.- John Pollard, assistant Crown Attorney

Lawyer John Pollard kicked off his cross-examination by zeroing in on Ruthowsky's pool business.

The Hamilton police officer sayscash deals and shoddy bookkeeping accountfor over $130,000 of unexplained income in his accounts.

"My bookkeeping was terrible," he said.

Pollard centred in onRuthowsky's"float" for his pool business around $50,000 in cash that he testified he kept on hand to pay for expenses and labour from the business.

"So whatever money you made in the pool season would sit in your closet for the better part of six months?" Pollard asked.

"Yes," Ruthowsky said. "I liked having the cash on hand. I felt comfortable with it in the house."

Pollard then suggested that the float was used to hide payouts from drug dealers.

"One doesn't take the profit from a drug scam and dump it into a bank account," Pollard said."You understand there are difficulties when it comes to laundering proceeds of crime."

"You're suggesting somewhere out in this big world, there's a hole dug, with thousands of dollars inside?" Ruthowsky responded.

"I'm suggesting it's probably in your bedroom closet, as a float," Pollard said. "I'm suggesting that float was the perfect cover for receiving bribes."

At that, members of Ruthowsky's family openly laughedin the courtroom.

"I never accepted any money from [drug dealers] at any point," Ruthowsky said.

Hiscross-examination continues Tuesday morning.

adam.carter@cbc.ca