NEW YORK (AP) - Disgraced former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik has surfaced from prison to testify at a perjury trial in the Bronx.

The 57-year-old Kerik began testifying Monday in the case of two brothers accused of lying about renovations done on Kerik's apartment while he was a city official. He's expected to return to the witness stand on Wednesday.

The same investigation resulted in Kerik pleading guilty to corruption charges that landed him in a Maryland prison to serve a four-year term. He's been temporarily transferred to a lower Manhattan lockup so he can appear at the trial.

Kerik was hailed as hero after the Sept. 11 terror attacks and became a White House pick for Homeland Security chief. But he was forced to withdraw from consideration after reports surfaced about the shady apartment makeover and other misdeeds.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.