Ex-top cop Jackie Selebi has explained why he believes Judge Meyer Joffe should recuse himself from his high-profile corruption trial, The Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.

In the application for Joffe's recusal, Selebi said he suspected the judge was biased toward him.

He said "justice had to be seen to be done" in the case in which he is facing two charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

This is in connection with at least R1,2-million he allegedly received from convicted drugster Glen Agliotti and others in return for some favours.

The long-awaited trial started this month but was thrown several curve balls, including the alleged existence of a secret video recording involving Agliotti, the State's star witness, talking to national intelligence officials.

At the time, Joffe expressed concern over the fact that this seemed to have been leaked to the press but that neither the State nor the defence had knowledge of the recording.

Selebi cited the judge's comments as evidence of pro-State bias.

He also complained about the judge's handling of another recording, which Joffe provisionally allowed as evidence.

The State will oppose the recusal application which is to be heard on Thursday.