Hamilton cop Craig Ruthowsky appeared in court Friday for the start of a preliminary hearing on criminal charges stemming from his arrest last year during a Toronto police gang bust.

Ruthowsky, who previously served on Hamilton's guns and gangs unit, faces several charges laid after a series of gang raids across the GTHA that police called Project Pharaoh.

He is charged with multiple counts of commissioning of an offence for a criminal organization, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, breach of trust, bribery of an officer and obstructing justice.

Ruthowsky wore a black suit and light purple shirt and tie for the hearing at the 1000 Finch Ave. W. courthouse in North York.

Investigation focused on Monstarz

Justice Carol Brewer invoked a publication ban on the details of the proceedings Friday.

Assistant Crown attorney John Pollard and defence attorney Greg Lafontaine expect to be back in court on Monday after the session was adjourned Friday morning.

Both attorneys declined to comment further, citing the publication ban.

A veteran of the Hamilton Police Service, Ruthowsky was arrested last June as part of a wide-cast net that police said numbered as many as 60 arrests.

The year-and-a-half long investigation focused on a Toronto gang, the Monstarz, that operates primarily in northwestern Toronto, according to police.

Police seized 33 kilograms of cocaine, $196,000 Canadian and $18,000 American in cash and 14 firearms during the arrests.

kelly.bennett@cbc.ca | @kellyrbennett