Malaysian rapper Namewee detained in murder investigation of Taiwanese influencer

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A fashionable taste Chinese Malaysian rapper and filmmaker was detained Wednesday to assistance constabulary successful their probe into the execution of a Taiwanese societal media influencer, the rapper's lawyer said.

Wee Meng Chee, popularly known arsenic Namewee, surrendered to constabulary aboriginal Wednesday and volition beryllium placed nether remand for six days, said his lawyer Joshua Tay. Police said Tuesday they were searching for Wee aft they reclassified Hsieh Yu-hsin's decease arsenic a execution pursuing the find of unspecified caller evidence.

Hsieh, 31, who had much than fractional a cardinal followers connected Instagram and besides operated an OnlyFans account, was recovered dormant successful a edifice bathtub successful Kuala Lumpur connected Oct. 22. According to section media reports, constabulary said Wee was the past idiosyncratic seen with her earlier her death. Wee was concisely detained astatine the clip and separately charged for cause possession and use, allegations helium denied.

A erstwhile nurse, Hsieh was known arsenic “Nurse Goddess” by her fans. Police said she arrived successful Malaysia connected Oct. 20 and was scheduled to enactment for 4 days. Police are waiting for the afloat post-mortem and toxicology reports earlier releasing the authoritative origin of her death, section media reported.

Wee, 42, said helium was profoundly saddened by Hsieh's decease but denied immoderate wrongdoing. In an Instagram station aft his surrender, helium vowed to cooperate with the probe to supply answers to the nationalist and Hsieh's family.

“I anticipation that the probe volition beryllium carried retired thoroughly and with the utmost objectivity and fairness,” said Tay, the lawyer.

A provocative and outspoken artist, Wee has been arrested and questioned by constabulary aggregate times successful the past implicit over his satirical takes connected politics, contention and religion successful his euphony videos and movies. He defends his close to creator look and says his videos usage satire to item societal issues successful Malaysia.

In 1 of his earliest videos successful 2007, helium mocked Malaysia's nationalist anthem and was criticized for utilizing radical slurs. In 2014, the authorities banned 1 of his films for allegedly portraying nationalist agencies successful a antagonistic way.

In 2016, helium was detained aft Malay Islamic activists complained that a euphony video made by Wee titled “Oh My God,” which was filmed astatine assorted places of worship and utilized the connection “Allah,” which means God successful the Malay language, was disrespectful to Islam. Wee said the video was meant to beforehand spiritual tolerance and helium was not charged.

Wee was detained again successful 2018 implicit complaints astir a euphony video featuring dancers successful canine masks who performed what authorities said were “obscene” moves that insulted Islam and could wounded radical harmony. Dogs are considered unclean by Muslims, who relationship for astir two-thirds of Malaysia’s 34 cardinal people.

Wee said his disapproval was aimed astatine hypocrisy and maltreatment of power, not religion oregon race.

Wee has besides faced backlash successful China. He released a opus successful 2021 with Australian vocalist Kimberley Chen that poked amusive astatine Chinese nationalists and touched connected delicate topics, similar Taiwan’s sovereignty. Beijing banned some singers from entering the state and removed their opus from each Chinese platforms.