A man has appeared in court for allegedly helping a suspect in a drug trafficking case escape custody by switching ID wristbands with him while the pair were being held in a court cell.

Lam King-ho, 24, is accused of misleading the police who on Monday released Chan Shu-wah, 37, even though West Kowloon Court had ordered he be remanded in custody.

Lam, who had been in court over an assault charge, was due to be released on bail before the alleged ID swap.

The same court on Thursday remanded him for real, with the new case against him adjourned until May 25.

Chan remains a wanted man.