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Malaysian police have charged controversial rapper and filmmaker Namewee with drug possession following media reports that he was found in a Kuala Lumpur hotel room where a Taiwanese influencer was later discovered dead.
The 42-year-old celebrity, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, was arrested on October 22 at a hotel in the city centre, police said in a statement released on Monday.
“During the search of the hotel room, police discovered nine blue pills suspected to be Ecstasy, weighing around 5.12 grams [0.18 ounce],” Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus said in the statement obtained by This Week in Asia. “A urine screening later tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, ketamine and THC,” he added, referring to the chemical compound in cannabis.
The rapper, who has denied taking or carrying drugs, was charged on October 24 under Malaysia’s Dangerous Drugs Act for possession and consumption of narcotics. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail of 8,000 ringgit (US$1,907). Police have confirmed the next date for the case hearing is December 18.
The body of Iris Hsieh, the Taiwanese influencer, was reportedly found in the same unnamed hotel room in Kuala Lumpur.
In a social media post on Sunday, Namewee denied the drug-taking allegations and speculation linking him to the influencer’s death.
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