Malaysian Rapper Namewee Released on Bail Amid Investigation into Influencer’s Death
Malaysian rapper Namewee, whose birth name is Wee Meng Chee, was released on bail on Thursday after being named a “person of interest” in the investigation into the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, according to Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus. The 42-year-old musician has maintained his innocence, denying any wrongdoing and stating that “the truth will speak for itself” in an Instagram post earlier this month.
Namewee was released until November 26, pending the results of an autopsy of Hsieh, also known as Hsieh Yu-hsin or “nurse goddess” to her fans. Following the autopsy, the investigation will be referred back to the deputy public prosecutor’s office, Marsus added. The amount of bail was not disclosed by authorities. Hsieh, a 31-year-old influencer with over half a million followers on Instagram, was found dead on October 22 in a bathtub at a high-end hotel in the Malaysian capital.
Namewee is believed to have been the last person with Hsieh before she died, police said. He had agreed to direct a commercial video that Hsieh was in Malaysia to discuss, according to her social media manager. The musician has found success in China and Taiwan, mainly singing in Mandarin, and has also acted in and directed films.
Namewee’s History of Controversy
Namewee is no stranger to controversy, having sparked widespread criticism in his home country over the 2007 release of “Negarakuku”, a parody of the Malaysian national anthem. He was also detained in Malaysia in 2016 for several days after allegedly insulting Islam in a video partly filmed inside a mosque. Namewee insisted the video for the song “Oh My God” was intended to promote religious harmony.
In 2018, he was arrested again for insulting Islam with a Lunar New Year video that featured dancers wearing dog masks and performing suggestive moves. Namewee has been blacklisted by Beijing since 2021 after penning a Mandarin song mocking Chinese nationalists, which amassed over 30 million views on YouTube.
Investigation and Autopsy
Malaysian media reported that Namewee contacted emergency services shortly after midnight on October 22 after finding Hsieh unresponsive in the bathroom. Police arrested Namewee that same day, after finding nine blue pills believed to be ecstasy in the hotel room. Namewee denied using drugs but tested positive for several illicit substances, including amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC, police said.
He pleaded not guilty to the drug charges. Hsieh’s social media manager, Chris, told the BBC that her family was unable to go to Malaysia to follow up on the case due to their “severe disabilities”. The investigation is ongoing, and the autopsy results are pending. For more information, visit Here
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