M'sian rapper Namewee, 42, turns himself in to police

Malaysian rapper Namewee, 42, has turned himself in to the Malaysia police in connection with the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, which has been reclassified as a murder case.

Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, posted the update on his Instagram account in the early hours of Nov. 5.

Wee said in the post that he arrived in Kuala Lumpur from Johor Bahru and reported to the police station.

He went to the police headquarters accompanied by three men and two women, it was reported.

One of the men was reportedly a lawyer.

They arrived in three cars.

Those who accompanied him subsequently left.

He added that he would do his best to assist in police investigations so as to hold himself accountable to the public and Hsieh's family.

Wee also said he would not run away from the case.

Wanted

Prior to turning himself in, Wee was previously thought to be in hiding after Hsieh's death was reclassified as murder.

KL police initially said Wee could not be located.

Wee was the last person seen with the 31-year-old victim, who is also known as Hsieh Yu-hsin.

KL police chief Fadil Marsus said on Nov. 4: "We have not been able to locate him and we believe he has gone into hiding."

The reclassification of the case from sudden death to murder was due to new findings following investigations.

Malaysia police are required to arrest any individual suspected of being involved in the offence of murder.

However, Fadil declined to disclose any information, citing the confidentiality of investigations.

Arrested, charged

Before the case was reclassified as murder, KL police confirmed on Nov. 3 that Wee was arrested and charged with drug possession and consumption in October.

KL police said they found nine blue pills, believed to be ecstasy, in a KL hotel room.

Wee was arrested on Oct. 22.

He subsequently tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine and ketamine, as well as THC, and charged with possession and consumption of drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Act on Oct. 24, two days after he was remanded.

He claimed trial to both charges and the court granted him bail of RM4,000 (S$1,239) per charge.

Background

Hsieh's body was found in the luxury hotel in KL.

Wee and Hsieh were reportedly working on filming a video together and were discussing matters in the hotel room.

Wee then apparently found her dead in the bathtub and tried to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but to no avail.

Top photos via Namewee/Instagram & Iris Hsieh/Instagram