Popular rapper detained in murder investigation after influencer found dead in hotel bathtub in Malaysia

A Malaysian court remanded popular rapper Namewee into custody on Monday, his lawyer said, as part of a murder probe investigating the death of a Tawainese influencer in a Kuala Lumpur hotel room.

Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, turned himself in to police on Wednesday after being named a “person of interest” in the investigation into the death of Iris Hsieh, also known as Hsieh Yu-hsin, or “nurse goddess” to fans.

The 31-year-old influencer was found dead on October 22 in a bathtub of a high-end hotel in the capital of Malaysia. She was in Malaysia to discuss a commercial video that Namewee had agreed to direct, her social media manager told the BBC.

The investigation was reclassified from a “sudden death report” to a murder case, and police said they wanted to question Namewee, believed to be the last person in Hsieh’s company.

Namewee, 42, denied any wrongdoing, saying in an Instagram post earlier this month that “the truth will speak for itself.”

His lawyer, Joshua Tay, told News that “the investigation is still ongoing and that is why the police are asking for an extension of the preventive detention”, which the court granted for another three days.

Malaysian media reported that Namewee contacted emergency services shortly after midnight on October 22 after finding Hsieh unconscious in the bathroom.

Police arrested Namewee that same day after finding nine blue pills believed to be ecstasy in the hotel room, the BBC reported. Namewee denied taking drugs, but tested positive for several illicit substances, including amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine and THC, police said, according to the BBC.

He pleaded not guilty to drug charges on Monday and was released on bail, the BBC reported.

Namewee, an outspoken hip-hop artist, actor and filmmaker, is very popular in China and Taiwan. He sings mainly in Mandarin.

Known for his trademark hat and often wearing sunglasses, Namewee was blacklisted by Beijing in 2021 after he wrote a song in Mandarin mocking Chinese nationalists.

The song reached more than 30 million views on YouTube.

Namewee has also repeatedly been at the center of controversy in Malaysia, where he hails from.

In 2007, he released “Negarakuku”, a parody of the Malaysian national anthem that sparked outrage for its frivolous lyrics.

In 2016, he was detained for several days for allegedly insulting Islam through a video filmed partially inside a mosque in the Muslim-majority country.

He was arrested again two years later for allegedly insulting Islam with a Lunar New Year video that showed dancers wearing dog masks and performing suggestive moves.

Hsieh has more than half a million followers on Instagram. Four other social media accounts were suspended for “sexual solicitation of adults,” CNA reported.

Hsieh’s social media manager, who asked to be called only Chris, told the BBC that his family was unable to go to Malaysia to follow the case due to his “severe disabilities”.