In front of Judge Stephen C. Robinson of US District Court, the ex-Police Commissioner of New York City, Bernard B. Kerik, pleaded 'not guilty' to a revised indictment of new tax fraud charges, in addition to his earlier public-corruption case. Initially indicted in November last year - on charges including fraud, corruption and making false statements - Kerik was charged again, on Monday, for preparing false tax returns.

Kerik, 53, who was the top choice of President Bush for heading the Department of Homeland Security, also faces charges for not disclosing a loan of $250,000, financed by an unnamed Israeli businessman. He also failed to report nearly $500,000 in income for three years, starting from 1999, when he was the city's correction commissioner, and later the police commissioner.

Of all the various charges, the most central to the federal case against Kerik is the allegation that a construction company, which had Mafia links, paid for Kerik's home renovations in the Bronx, in expectation of a city license with his help.

The revised indictment, which raises the counts against Kerik to15, also includes charges that while applying for the position of adviser to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, he made several false statements to the White House and other federal officials. There is no official intimation about where Kerik would be tried for these charges - in Washington or White Plains, NY.

Though a trial date has not been set as yet, Kerik will be back in court on February 3 for a hearing on pretrial motions.