Elaine Lee, 42, who operated cosmetic surgery centres in China as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia, was said to have plunged from the 22nd floor of a hotel in the Jiangxi Province.
The family of businesswoman Elaine Lee who reportedly committed suicide in China on Monday suspects that there may be foul play and wants the Chinese authorities to investigate the matter further.
She died of multiple head and bodily injuries at a private hospital the next day.
Chinese authorities have classified the case as suicide, but the family feels she could have been pushed off the balcony.
Elaine Lee opened her first Sequins Beauty Centre at Jalan Batu Lanchang (now Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim) with only RM10,000 capital in 1992 in Penang. Her business prospered and a few branches were opened in other states over the next few years.
Lee, born in Nibong Tebal, was a Miss Malaysia contestant in 1983.
She also founded Skinnic Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Centre which has branches in China and Indonesia.
She became popular in China when one of her patients, Ma Lieh, won the All-China Reconstructed Beauty Pageant last year.
Her brother, who declined to be named, said there was no reason for Lee to take her own life as she had so much to live for, especially since her cosmetic surgery business in China was doing very well.
“We cannot accept the suicide motive given to us by the authorities. I hope that they will investigate the incident further instead of just sweeping it under the carpet,” he said.
Several of her family members arrived in Jiangxi, some 800km southwest of Shanghai, yesterday morning to bring her body back.
Architect B. S. Tan, 45, said he was shocked to learn that Lee, who was a close friend, had died in what looked like an apparent suicide. He described her as an outgoing person with many high-profile friends.
LeeÂ’s death in Jiangxi Province, China, was the third tragedy to befall the family since February.
Two older sisters, both in their 50s, died in February and March.
Lee was the ninth in a family of 10 siblings comprising seven sisters and three brothers.
LeeÂ’s close friend B.S. Tan, 45, said it had not been a very good year for the family, and that Lee was quite close to her sisters and was emotionally affected by their deaths.
“I sympathise with her family and hope they will be able to pull through the latest tragedy,” he said.
The founder of the Skinnic Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Centre in Kelawei Road here fell to her death from the 22nd floor of the Empire Hotel in He Ping on last Tuesday but family members suspect there could be foul play.
Her brother, who declined to be named, said when contacted last week that he had yet to claim his sisterÂ’s body despite arriving on last Thursday.
I hope that the Malaysian media will leave me alone and allow me some privacy in my moment of grief.
I will issue a statement when the time is right.
Lee's apparent suicide was witnessed by a 42-year-old man, whom the local Chinese press had described as her boyfriend.
He is an air force hospital doctor in Szechuan.
According to a Jiangxi Province Foreign Affairs Office document in relation to the incident obtained by The Star, a man identified as Chen Xun had witnessed the incident.
Both were allegedly involved in a heated argument as Lee suspected that Chen Xun had been chatting with another woman on his cellphone. She then stormed into another room and locked herself in.
A few minutes later, he received a call on his cellphone from Lee who told him that she was quite unhappy and wanted to commit suicide.
He then told her not to do anything silly. After much persuasion, she let him into the room. What occurred in the room has yet to be determined but when the police arrived, she had fallen to her death.
Another brother of LeeÂ’s said it was very unlikely that his sister would kill herself as she had everything to live for, especially when her cosmetic surgery business was doing so well.
China authority should ensure security and safety of foreigner doing business in China.
Link: Guang Ming Daily : Boy friend:She died in an accident, Authority:She died in suicide
All-China Reconstructed Beauty Pageant winner's Mah Lieh: She unlikely to commit suicide, its unbelievable
Boy friend Chen Xun: Accident report has submitted to Malaysia Embassy. Malaysia Embassy in Peking denied received such report
Body not like fall from 22nd floor
Window can only open 4 to 6 inch, how Lee fall from window?
Tag: Cosmetic : Beauty :Malaysia: China:Health & wellness: Skincare
