A COMMITTAL hearing for ICAC informant and former Customs officer Henfrey Tin Sau-kwong, charged in connection with a $8.5 billion cigarette smuggling ring, will be held next month in Eastern Court.

Tin, 45, described by sacked Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) deputy director Alex Tsui Ka-kit as a friend, will appear before magistrate John Saunders on January 25 with former colleague Yeung Kam-fai, 43, and merchant Chong Tsoi-jun, 49.

Tin faces one count of accepting a bribe and one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to Customs officers. Chong is charged with two counts of conspiring to offer advantages.

Both face charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.