An inquiry is underway after a 31-year-old Taiwanese influencer was discovered dead in a hotel bathtub in Malaysia, according to local media sources.
Hsieh Yu-hsin, also known as Iris Hsieh, who has 546,000 Instagram followers, was discovered dead at 1:40 p.m. local time on October 22, according to Malaysian newspaper The Star.
According to the New Straits Times, the hotel was located on Jalan Conlay, a thoroughfare in Kuala Lumpur.
The inquiry was initially classified as a sudden death report, but it is now being classified as a murder case, according to local police head Datuk Fadil Marsus.
The Star stated that Malaysian rapper Namewee, 42, real name Wee Meng Chee, was the last person seen with Hsieh. The New Straits Times said that he was in the same room with the victim at the time of the occurrence.
Multiple local media sites including the BBC claimed that the musician had been charged with unlawful drug usage and possession.
Local officer Datuk Fadil Marsus stated of Namewee, “He was later arrested for alleged possession and use of drugs but was released after pleading not guilty to drug-related charges at the Jalan Duta Court on Oct 24,” while discussing the case on Tuesday, Nov. 4, according to The Star.
Namewee, who is well-known in Malaysia for his songs and music videos addressing forbidden issues, was arrested on October 22 after cops allegedly discovered ecstasy pills, according to the BBC.
According to Officer Fadil, the rapper tested positive for illicit substances such as amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC, and was jailed for two days before being released.
However, in a translated statement uploaded on Instagram, Namewee denied taking narcotics, stating that “at most, I’ve been drinking more recently.”
He wrote in the post that he felt “deeply” terrible about Hsieh’s death and claimed the ambulance “was nearly an hour late,” adding that “the truth will come out” when the police report is issued, which “should still take two or three months.”
According to Officer Fadil, police had taken statements from hotel personnel and security and were studying CCTV footage in an attempt to track Hsieh’s movements prior to her death.
“Investigations are ongoing from all angles, including those who were last seen with the victim.” We will examine the moves of both the victim and the suspect to see whether he is a suspect,” Fadil stated about the case, according to the paper.
“The team has taken statements from hotel staff, security guards, and transportation operators, including airport personnel,” the officer told the New Straits Times.
“It’s a comprehensive investigation examining every movement of both the victim and the person last seen with her,” he said, according to the source.
PEOPLE contacted the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) for more details, but they did not answer quickly. People have also tried to contact Namewee.
