Malaysian singer Namewee, who was originally scheduled to attend a hearing for drug possession and use cases at the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Magistrate's Court on Thursday, was unable to appear in court due to sick leave.
According to Namewee's representative lawyer, Cheng Qingfeng, who informed the court, his client was unable to appear due to illness and submitted a medical certificate and medical report through the guarantor.
Magistrate Alen Zoti then confirmed with the lawyer in court that Namewee was diagnosed with influenza and granted three days of medical leave.
As the case documents have already been completed, he also requested for the case to be mentioned again next Monday (22nd), a request approved by the magistrate.
Namewee was charged on October 24 in the above two magistrates' courts with one count each of drug possession and drug use, both of which he pleaded not guilty to.
According to reports, he was charged in the 1st Criminal Magistrate's Court for allegedly possessing 5.12 grams of suspected ecstasy (MDMA) at around 4:30 p.m. on October 22 in a room at Banyan Tree Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, thus violating Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and is liable to be punished under Section 39A(1) of the same Act.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than 2 years but not more than 5 years and not less than 3 strokes but not more than 9 strokes of the cane.
In the 3rd Magistrate's Court, he was charged with testing positive for amphetamines, methamphetamines, ketamine, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) after a urine test at 7:15 p.m. on October 22 in the toilet of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department office at the Kuala Lumpur Jinma Police District Headquarters, thus violating Section 15(1)(a) (drug use) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
If convicted, he could be fined not more than RM5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 2 years, and may be subjected to supervision for a period of no less than 2 years but not more than 3 years.
As Namewee pleaded not guilty, both cases ended with individual bail set at RM2,000.
Taiwanese Internet celebrity Hsieh Youxin died in a Kuala Lumpur hotel on October 22 this year, and the 42-year-old Namewee was alleged to be involved in this homicide case on November 3, following revelations that he had already been charged in court for drug possession and use on October 24.
The police subsequently summoned Namewee on November 5 to assist in the investigation of the homicide case and remanded him for six days until November 13, after which he was released on verbal bail.