Widespread rapper held in homicide investigation after influencer discovered lifeless in resort bathtub in Malaysia

A Malaysian courtroom remanded in style rapper Namewee in custody on Monday, his lawyer stated, a part of a homicide investigation trying into the demise of a Tawainese influencer in a Kuala Lumpur resort room.

Namewee, whose actual identify is Wee Meng Chee, handed himself over to police on Wednesday after he was named a “individual of curiosity” within the probe into the demise of Iris Hsieh, also called Hsieh Yu-hsin, or “nurse goddess” to followers.

The 31-year-old influencer was discovered lifeless on October 22 in a bath at a high-end resort within the Malaysian capital.  She was in Malaysia to debate a business video Namewee had agreed to direct, her social media supervisor advised the BBC.

The probe was reclassified from a “sudden demise report” to a homicide case, with police saying they needed to query Namewee, believed to have been the final individual in Hsieh’s firm.

Namewee, 42, has denied any wrongdoing and stated in an Instagram publish earlier this month that “the reality will converse for itself.”

His lawyer, Joshua Tay, advised AFP that “the investigation remains to be ongoing and this is the reason the police is asking for an extension of the remand,” which he stated the courtroom granted for an additional three days.

Malaysian media reported Namewee contacted emergency companies shortly after midnight on October 22 after he discovered Hsieh unresponsive within the rest room.

Police arrested Namewee that very same day, after they discovered 9 blue drugs believed to be ecstasy within the resort room, the BBC reported. Namewee denied he had used medication however examined optimistic for a number of illicit substances, together with amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC, police stated, based on the BBC.

On Monday, he pleaded not responsible to the drug costs and was launched on bail, the BBC reported.

Namewee, an outspoken hip-hop artist, actor and filmmaker, is vastly in style in China and Taiwan. He sings primarily in Mandarin.

Identified for his trademark beanie and infrequently carrying sun shades, Namewee was blacklisted by Beijing in 2021 after he penned a Mandarin tune poking enjoyable at Chinese language nationalists.

The observe hit greater than 30 million views on YouTube.

Namewee has additionally repeatedly been on the heart of controversy in Malaysia, which he hails from.

In 2007, he launched “Negarakuku,” a parody of the Malaysian nationwide anthem which sparked outrage on account of its flippant lyrics.

In 2016, he was detained for a number of days for allegedly insulting Islam over a video partly filmed inside a mosque within the Muslim-majority nation.

He was arrested once more two years later once more for allegedly insulting Islam with a Lunar New 12 months video that featured dancers carrying canine masks and performing suggestive strikes.

Hsieh has over over half 1,000,000 followers on Instagram. She had 4 different social media accounts suspended for “grownup sexual solicitation”, CNA reported.

Hsieh’s social media supervisor, who requested solely to be known as Chris, advised the BBC that her household have been unable to go to Malaysia to observe up on the case due to their “extreme disabilities”.