Liam Payne’s ‘drug dealer’ waiter arrested after being accused of supplying 1D star with cocaine before tragic death
THE waiter accused of selling Liam Payne cocaine before he plunged to his death at a Buenos Aires hotel has been arrested.
Cops arrived at Braian Nahuel Paiz’s home today after a judge gave the hotel worker 24 hours to hand himself in.
The 24-year-old was charged with supplying the singer with drugs a week ago.
But the arrest didn’t take place until Friday after police went to his home at Ingeniero Budge on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
Judge Laura Bruniard had ordered preventative detention for Paiz and he is being held on a 5million peso bail (£3,896).
Paiz’s lawyer Fernando Madeo confirmed his client had been arrested but didn’t give any more details about what prison he would be taken to or when.
Fernando Madeo ealier insisted his client Braian Paiz, 24, has been the victim of a “witch hunt” as officials desperately try to find answers over the One Direction star’s death.
Paiz is accused of handing the troubled pop star cocaine on two separate occasions on October 14.
He previously admitted to taking drugs with the star but has insisted he was not a dealer.
Lawyer Madeo said: “They want to look for culprits at any price, violating constitutional rights and guarantees and forming a ’truth’ which turns out to false as is the case here.
“Accusing innocent people of crimes they haven’t committed.”
Paiz was one of five men charged by a Buenos Aires judge last Friday following Liam’s death at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on October 16.
He and 21-year-old Ezequiel David Pereyra have both been charged with supplying Liam with drugs in exchange for money.
The police operation also included another search at the home of Pereyra in the city of Lomas de Zamora, according to news site Clarin.
But the did not find the 21-year-old who remains on the run.
They could both face between four and 15 years if convicted.
Speaking to Argentine TV station America TV, Madeo said his client had arranged to meet up with Liam after speaking to him at the Buenos Aires restaurant where he worked.
Paiz was a “lifelong fan of One Direction” so wanted to hang out.
Madeo continued: “He was fond of Liam and liked him.
“He took advantage of the meeting he had with him in the restaurant where he worked and they exchanged messages.”
Paiz has always denied selling Liam any substances.
Madeo said any suggestion otherwise is “absurd”.
Bruniard said the 31-year-old should have been left in a safe place instead of being put at risk by being taken to his room after binging on drink and drugs.
Bruniard said he had been “demanding” drugs and alcohol while staying at the hotel.
On the day of his death, Liam was “unable to stand” in the hotel lobby due to the “consumption of various substances”, court documents said.
Judge Bruniard said that just before 5pm, Liam was “unable to look after himself” and had “clearly fainted” in the hotel lobby.
The judge also concluded Liam fell to his death after trying to climb over his balcony, appearing to support claims he was trying to escape his room because he didn’t want to be there.
Liam’s manager as well as the manager of the hotel and its head of reception have now been charged with negligent homicide – similar to manslaughter in the UK.
He was in the Argentinian capital for pal Niall Horan’s tour when he died.
The Brit had been staying at the £325-a-night Casa Sur hotel, in the central neighbourhood of Palermo.
Crowds of devastated fans flocked to the hotel pay their respects to their idol.