There is a perception that 1MDB trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, as then a partner of a law firm, was involved in the appointment of Jasmine Loo as a partner in the same firm, argued Najib Abdul Razak's legal team.

During today's hearing of the former prime minister's bid to recuse Sequerah from the RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial, lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said there is a risk of 'pre-evaluation' on the judge's part as he was a partner in Zain & Co when Loo was made a partner there on Jan 1, 2004.