Home minister: Cops reclassified Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh’s death as murder after further probe

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 7 — Police only reclassified the death of Taiwanese social media influencer Hsieh Yu-hsin, better known as Iris Hsieh, as murder after completing further investigations, according to the New Straits Times (NST).

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reportedly told NST that the initial case classification was a preliminary step to determine the direction of the investigation.

The 31-year-old influencer was found dead in the bathroom of a hotel on Jalan Conlay here on Oct 22. 

He said the case was later classified as murder on Nov 4 after investigators gathered more information.

“We find out information in stages. When an incident occurs, the first step for the police is to classify the case under the relevant Act and section. Then, they will discuss the direction of the investigation.

“After they take statements from the witnesses, only then can they classify the case,” he said when asked why the reclassification took time.

Local rapper Wee Meng Chee, better known as Namewee, was reportedly in the same hotel room at the time of the incident, according to NST.

The 42-year-old was remanded yesterday.

NST also reported that he was charged with drug use and possession before the remand on Oct 24.

Wee pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of RM4,000 for each charge, with one surety.