KUALA LUMPUR – The late Taiwanese influencer Hsieh Yu-Hsin is believed to have come from a severely impoverished background and had been exploited for years, according to sources close to the investigation.
A police source said Hsieh, 31, had no close family support in Taiwan and had been under the influence and control of several individuals for various purposes before her death.
“She came from a very impoverished background and had no immediate family looking after her. For years, she was exploited and used for activities she had little say in,” the source said.
The source claimed the suspect, currently under police scrutiny, had known Hsieh for several years and had arranged for her stay in Malaysia.
“She was brought into Malaysia by the suspect, who provided financial support and accommodation. Their association goes back some time,” the source added.
Her alleged exploitation was said to have extended beyond Malaysia.
“She had previously been involved in club and entertainment-related activities in other countries. This pattern is not new in her case,” the source said.
Authorities are still handling requests from several individuals claiming to be linked to Hsieh, each seeking the release of her remains.
“Multiple parties from Taiwan have come forward asking for her body. Police will not release the remains without proper verification. The post-mortem examination is also not yet complete,” the source said.
The source also dismissed claims that Hsieh had consumed drugs voluntarily.
“Police do not accept the explanation that the victim took the drugs herself. The circumstances do not support that. She would not have had access to those substances without someone providing them,” the source said.
“There is a very high likelihood that the drugs came from the suspect. He collected her when she arrived, they checked into the same hotel, and they moved around Kuala Lumpur together. Police are now strengthening the evidence before proceeding with further action.”
Hsieh was found dead in a hotel room in the capital on October 22. She was said to have met film director and rapper Wee Meng Chee, better known as Namewee, earlier at the hotel to discuss a video project. He discovered her unresponsive in the bathroom shortly afterwards.
Police initially classified the case as sudden death, but reclassified it as murder after further investigation.
On the same day, Namewee was arrested at the hotel after police found nine blue pills suspected to be ecstasy in the room. He later tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, ketamine and THC.
He was charged with drug possession and consumption at the Jalan Duta Magistrates’ Court on October 24 and pleaded not guilty. Bail was set at RM4,000 for each charge.
On November 5, Namewee appeared at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters to assist in the murder probe. He was subsequently detained and remanded for six days, with the remand later extended for another three days, ending Thursday. – November 11, 2025