KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — Police are seeking to remand Malaysian rapper Namewee to assist in investigations into the murder of Taiwanese influencer Hsieh Yu-hsin.
Dang Wangi Police Chief ACP Sazalee Adam said the remand application will be made this morning at the Dang Wangi police station.
Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, earlier confirmed in social media that he would fully cooperate with police investigations into the case.
When contacted by Malay Mail, Wee’s lawyer Joshua Tay said his client arrived at the Dang Wangi police station at 1.10am to lodge a police report and assist in the investigation.
Tay, who accompanied Wee during the process, also confirmed that the police will be applying for his client’s remand today.
He added that he will represent Wee during the remand application proceedings.
In Malaysia, police must apply for a court order to detain an individual for more than 24 hours to assist in investigations.
The court can decide to grant the number of days requested by police, give a shorter remand period, or refuse the remand and release the individual.
Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur police chief CP Datuk Fadil Marsus said the case of a woman found dead on October 22 at a hotel in the capital had been reclassified from sudden death to murder.
Although he did not identify the victim by name, the case is believed to be linked to Hsieh, who was known online as Iris Hsieh or “Nurse Goddess”.
Local daily The Star later reported Fadil as saying the cause of Hsieh’s death is still under investigation and pending post-mortem and toxicology results.
On Monday, Fadil said Dang Wangi police had arrested the 42-year-old Wee in a hotel room in Kuala Lumpur on October 22.
He said nine pills suspected to be Ecstasy were found there, and Wee tested positive for drugs.
Wee was then remanded for two days before being charged in court on October 24 with two offences for drug possession and drug use.
He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail, with the next court mention scheduled for December 18.
Wee had previously denied drug use and possession on social media.
Hsieh was reported to have arrived in Malaysia on October 20 and was scheduled to remain until October 24.
