Hotel employee Braian Nahuel Paiz has been arrested in Argentina in connection with singer Liam Payne’s death.
The waiter, 24, was charged last month for allegedly supplying the late One Direction star with drugs prior to his fatal fall.
Paiz was arrested at his home outside of Buenos Aires, Argentina on Friday, January 3 and could face between four and 15 years in prison, reported People and TMZ. Per TMZ, Paiz was under house arrest at the time local authorities raided his home.
People reported on Friday, January 3 that both Paiz and his lawyer Fernando Madeo Facente are maintaining that the hotel employee is innocent.
Suspect in Liam Payne’s Death Denies Supplying Singer With Drugs
Payne, who shot to fame as one of five members of boy band One Direction, died on October 16, 2024 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. He was 31.
A preliminary autopsy cited “multiple traumas” as the cause of Payne’s death, including hemorrhages in his chest, skull and abdomen. The partial autopsy found multiple drugs were reportedly found in his system at the time of his passing, including traces of “pink cocaine” — a mix of methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA — cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack.
Paiz was one of five people charged on Monday, December 30 by Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office in connection to Payne’s death.
In addition to Paiz, CasaSur employee Ezequiel Pereyra was also charged with allegedly supplying drugs to Payne ahead of his death.
Meanwhile, Payne’s friend Roger Nores is among those facing manslaughter charges, along with Esteban Grassi, a receptionist at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, and the hotel’s head of security Gilda Martin.
During an interview with Argentina’s Telefe Noticias that aired in November 2024, Paiz denied dealing drugs to the late musician. Paiz claimed he initially met Payne when he dined at the restaurant where Paiz works in Puerto Madero in the weeks leading up to his death.
According to Paiz, Payne “was already under the effects of drugs and he didn’t actually eat anything” at the restaurant.
He continued, “We swapped details and saw each other later that night. It was all normal.”
2 Suspects ‘Could Be Arrested’ Soon in Liam Payne Death: Report
Paiz insisted, “I never supplied Liam with drugs,” adding that the pair arranged to meet at the “Hyatt in Palermo” on October 2. They met up again at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 13.
“We took drugs together, but I never took drugs to him or accepted any money,” he claimed, adding that he still had the messages exchanged between himself and Payne to arrange their second meeting.
Payne’s funeral was held in Amersham, England, on Wednesday, November 20. Payne’s former One Direction bandmates — Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan — were among those in attendance.
