A veteran police officer will face a committal hearing next year on 18 serious assault and corruption charges, including intentionally causing injury by placing the barrel of his service revolver in a Vietnamese man's mouth.

Detective Sergeant Michael Gaul is also accused of forcing a screwdriver into the man's neck, making threats to kill, and kneeing the man to the body during the alleged attack at a Richmond property in July 14, 2010.

Police officer Michael Gaul outside court on Monday. Credit:Paul Jeffers

On July 15, 2010, Mr Gaul is also accused of attempting to receive perfumes and colognes that had been stolen from a property on Church Street in Richmond.

Most recently based with the Hume crime investigation unit, Mr Gaul was the subject of a year-long investigation by Victoria Police's professional standards command. It is understood that up to a dozen of Mr Gaul's former colleagues have assisted with the investigation, including several who have signed sworn statements.