Waiter Arrested for Allegedly Supplying Cocaine to Liam Payne Before His Death

A hotel waiter has been arrested in Argentina for allegedly supplying cocaine to Liam Payne in the hours leading up to the former One Direction star’s death in October. Braian Paiz, an employee of the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires, was taken into custody Friday after being charged with providing drugs to Payne on multiple occasions, including on the day of his death.

Prosecutors claim Paiz supplied Payne with cocaine twice on October 14 and again in the morning hours of October 16. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Paiz visiting Payne’s room for several hours and Payne requesting cash from the reception desk while Paiz was present. Although Paiz admitted to giving Payne drugs, he denied receiving payment, claiming he provided the drugs to spend time with Payne. However, Judge Laura Bruniard ruled that the evidence pointed to a monetary transaction.

Paiz, along with another hotel employee, Ezequiel Pereyra, is being held in pre-trial detention. Both face charges of supplying narcotics, which carry potential prison sentences of four to 15 years, and have been ordered to surrender assets totaling 5 million pesos.

Payne, 31, died on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur hotel. Investigators determined that he was in a state of partial or full unconsciousness at the time of the fall and ruled out voluntary action or third-party involvement. Toxicology reports found traces of cocaine, alcohol, and a prescription antidepressant in his system within the 72 hours leading up to his death.

Three additional individuals have been charged in connection to Payne’s death, including his friend and rumored manager, Roger Nores, who faces charges of negligent homicide for leaving Payne in a vulnerable state. The hotel manager, Gilda Martin, and head receptionist, Esteban Grassi, are accused of failing to secure Payne’s safety and instead directing others to carry him to his room despite his condition.