A waiter has been taken into custody after being accused of providing One Direction’s Liam Payne with cocaine shortly before the singer’s tragic fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Braian Nahuel Paiz, 24, is facing charges of drug distribution following an investigation into Payne’s death at the Casa Sur Palermo Hotel on October 16. A court order for Paiz’s arrest was issued after he allegedly supplied the singer with cocaine on at least two occasions prior to the fatal incident.
Although Paiz was given 24 hours to surrender to authorities, his arrest didn’t take place until police located him at his home in Ingeniero Budge, a suburb outside Buenos Aires. Paiz’s lawyer, Fernando Madeo, filed a request for his client to remain on bail, but the judge rejected it. The court has also demanded a financial guarantee of five million Argentine pesos for Paiz’s release, although his legal team continues to maintain his innocence. According to Madeo, Paiz is being unjustly targeted and labeled as a scapegoat in what he describes as a “witch hunt” by the authorities.
In the hours following the arrest, Paiz’s lawyer vehemently denied the accusations, claiming that his client had shared drugs with Payne but had not sold him any narcotics. Paiz admitted to using drugs with the 31-year-old singer but argued that no money exchanged hands. He further argued that the authorities were rushing to assign blame and violating his constitutional rights. According to leaked court documents, Paiz had allegedly sent photos of drugs to Payne before their encounters, but it remains unclear whether the drugs were purchased or shared casually. The case continues to evolve, with more suspects being charged over Payne’s death.
Liam Payne’s death shocked fans worldwide and led to an outpouring of tributes from his friends, family, and fellow musicians. Along with Paiz, hotel employee Ezequiel David Pereyra, who had been suspended from his job at Casa Sur Palermo, was also charged with supplying the singer with drugs. In addition to these two men, three other individuals have been charged with manslaughter for their roles in Payne’s demise. These include Roger Nores, Payne’s close friend, Esteban Grassi, the hotel’s receptionist, and Gilda Martin, the head of security at the hotel. While these individuals face charges, they have been allowed to remain free pending further investigation.
The circumstances surrounding Payne’s death continue to raise questions, particularly concerning the hotel staff’s actions prior to the fall. Investigators believe that Payne, in a drugged state, may have attempted to escape the hotel through the balcony, ultimately leading to his fatal plunge. Experts suggest that his disorientation and altered state of mind may have contributed to the accident. The case is ongoing, and the legal proceedings will continue to unfold as the investigation into the cause of Payne’s death progresses.
