Rapper held for six days over ties to death of influencer
KUALA LUMPUR: Local rapper Wee Meng Chee, better known as Namewee, has been remanded for six days in connection with the death of Taiwanese social media influencer Hsieh Yun-hsi.
Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Sazalee Adam said the suspect will be remanded until Nov 10.
“The remand application was made at Dang Wangi district police headquarters,” he said when contacted.
Namewee’s lawyer Joshua Tay H’ng Foong was also seen there yesterday.
In a Facebook post before surrendering himself to the police, Namewee took a video, showing a police station in the background.
“I have just arrived in Kuala Lumpur. I have now arrived at the police station, and from here on, I will fully cooperate with the police investigation to explain to the public and the deceased’s family.
“I will not run away. In the past, when I was wanted (by the police), I voluntarily reported myself each time and never fled,” he said.
In custody: Namewee being remanded at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. — Photo courtesy of China Press
Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus said earlier they were looking for Namewee to assist the investigation into the death of Hsieh.
The police had reclassified Hsieh’s case as murder after the initial sudden death classification.
Investigations revealed that Namewee was the last person seen with the 31-year-old victim in a room at a hotel here at about 1.40pm on Oct 22.
He was later arrested for alleged possession and use of drugs but was released after pleading not guilty to the drug-related charges at the Jalan Duta Court on Oct 24.
Comm Fadil had told a press conference that the case, initially classified as sudden death, had since been reclassified as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code following the discovery of suspicious elements.
“Investigations are ongoing from all angles, including individuals who were with the victim before her death.
“We will review all movements of both the victim and the suspect,” he said.
He added that police had recorded statements from hotel staff and security personnel, and were also reviewing CCTV footage tracing the victim’s movements from the airport to the hotel.
Comm Fadil said the victim arrived in Malaysia on Oct 20 and was scheduled to stay for four days until Oct 24.
“The post-mortem and toxicology reports are still pending, and the cause of death remains under investigation.
“It is too early to reveal the cause of death. The post-mortem and toxicology reports will give us clearer findings later,” he said.
