Botched cosmetic surgery leaves housewife dead, unlicensed beautician still at large

Johor health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon.

JOHOR BARU: The beautician who allegedly performed a breast enhancement procedure on a 29-year-old housewife that led to her eventual death is still missing.

Johor health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said after the death of the victim, Tan Wei Shan, last month, the state Health Department’s private medical practice control section launched an investigation into the matter and searched for the beautician.

"They also staked out at the location - a double-storey house in Taman Mutiara Rini, Skudai - where the procedure was said to have taken place, but the beautician was nowhere to be seen," he said.

Ling added that the beautician’s contact number and social media accounts had also been shut down.

"I am giving the beautician one week to come forward and assist in the department’s investigation.

"Those with information about her whereabouts are also encouraged to channel the information to us.

"If she still refuses to do so, I will call for a coordinating meeting with the police and the department to ask the cops’ help to track her down," the Yong Peng assemblyman told reporters after handing out the state government’s financial assistance to Chinese independent schools here on Tuesday (Sept 26).

He also confirmed the beautician was unlicensed and that the location where she performed her services was a rented house.

Tan, a mother of two, was said to have undergone a breast enhancement procedure on July 29.

She reportedly felt dizzy and unwell upon returning home and complained of pain and swelling in her chest.

She was rushed to a private hospital at around 7pm the following day before passing away a few days later on Aug 2.

Tan was said to have only wanted a facelift initially, but the beautician, whom she met through a friend, also convinced her to go for a breast enhancement.

Her husband, only known as Wong, reportedly said the hospital’s first post-mortem result showed that his wife had developed a bacterial infection.

The state Health Department is located at Block B, Wisma Persekutuan, Jalan Ayer Molek, and their telephone number is 07-2245180 or 07-2245188.