The remand for controversial Malaysian rapper Namewee has been extended by an additional three days, as law enforcement continues its investigation into the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh Yu-hsin.
Namewee, whose full name is Wee Meng Chee, aged 42, will remain in detention until November 13, according to a statement released by Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus on Monday, November 10. His legal representative, Joshua Tay, confirmed the new remand date. Mr. Tay was quoted outside the Dang Wangi police headquarters as stating that police investigations had not yet been finalized. He assured the media that his client is in good health and maintains a positive demeanor while cooperating with the authorities.
The musician, who has long been known for courting controversy through his music which often touches upon issues like government inefficiency and corruption, voluntarily presented himself to the police on November 5 after the case had been significantly reclassified.
The incident centers on the death of Ms. Hsieh Yu-hsin, a 31-year-old Taiwanese influencer from Taichung city. She was known to her large fanbase—approximately 545,000 followers on Instagram and 349,000 on Facebook—as the "nurse goddess" due to her background in nursing and her engaging online content. Ms. Hsieh was discovered dead on October 22 in a hotel bathtub at Jalan Conlay in Kuala Lumpur. At the time of her death, she was reportedly working on a video project with Mr. Wee.
Mr. Wee stated that he found Ms. Hsieh unresponsive in the bathroom. He took immediate action, administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before contacting emergency services at 12:30 pm.
Initially, the case was categorized as a sudden death investigation. However, based on further evidence collected, the case was reclassified as murder on November 4. This reclassification prompted questions regarding the delay, to which Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution responded on November 6, assuring the public that authorities adhered to strict procedures throughout the probe. The Minister emphasized that the process is entirely reliant on the evidence and information collected to ensure justice is served and the truth is uncovered.
The police have indicated that the completion of crucial reports, specifically the toxicology and post-mortem examination reports for Ms. Hsieh, is expected to take a significant amount of time, with reports suggesting a duration of up to three months. These reports are vital for confirming the precise cause and circumstances of the influencer's death.
Prior to turning himself in for the murder probe, Mr. Wee had faced separate legal issues. He was previously arrested and later released on bail after being charged on October 24 with drug use and possession. In a social media post published in the early hours of November 5, before his remand for the murder investigation, Mr. Wee pledged his full cooperation with law enforcement, stating, "I will fully cooperate with the police investigation to give an explanation to the public and the deceased’s family.” He further asserted that he has never fled from authorities in the past when previously required to report to them.
The murder charge in Malaysia is an extremely serious offense. Upon conviction, it carries the maximum penalty of the death penalty or imprisonment for a term of 30 to 40 years, coupled with a requirement for the convicted person to receive not less than 12 strokes of the cane.
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