5th November 2025 – (Taipei) Taiwanese legal experts say Taiwan retains jurisdiction to prosecute serious offences against its nationals committed abroad, as Malaysian rapper Namewee surrendered to police amid the investigation into the death of influencer Iris Hsieh, which has shifted from sudden death to suspected murder.
Attorney Liu Wei‑ting set out three key points on Taiwan’s legal reach. First, where a foreign national abroad commits an offence against a Taiwanese citizen carrying a minimum sentence of three years, Taiwan may assert criminal jurisdiction. Second, even if a suspect has been tried and imprisoned overseas for the same conduct, Taiwanese prosecutors may still bring a case at home, with any sentence adjusted in light of punishment already served abroad. Third, homicide is punishable by penalties up to and including the death sentence under Taiwanese law.
According to Liu, a conviction for a grave offence such as murder overseas would not necessarily close the matter for Taiwan. Following the conclusion of proceedings in Malaysia, Taiwan could seek extradition, or detain and prosecute the suspect upon any entry into its territory. The location of the alleged crime would not, in itself, bar Taiwanese judicial action.
Namewee presented himself to police in the early hours, stating he would cooperate fully with the investigation. Malaysian authorities initially examined the case on suspected drug possession and use, but are now pursuing a murder line of inquiry linked to Hsieh’s death.
Malaysia and Taiwan have no formal bilateral extradition treaty. Nonetheless, the two sides have cooperated in criminal matters, including the transfer of suspects, via alternative legal pathways and informal arrangements. Official sources confirm the absence of any standing treaty, yet ad hoc extraditions and handovers do occur, often grounded in other international instruments—such as UN conventions targeting transnational organised crime—or structured on case‑by‑case agreements. A notable example came in November 2023, when Malaysia extradited 10 Taiwanese nationals suspected of involvement in a phone‑scam syndicate to face prosecution in Taiwan, underscoring that cooperation can proceed without a dedicated pact. Malaysia adheres to the One China policy, recognising the People’s Republic of China, which complicates the conclusion of state‑to‑state agreements with Taiwan.
