Cops launch manhunt for second ‘drug dealer waiter’ accused of selling Liam Payne cocaine after hotel worker arrest
COPS have launched a manhunt for the second man accused of selling Liam Payne drugs after arresting waiter Braian Paiz.
An arrest warrant was issued for Ezequiel David Pereyra, 21, after he failed to hand himself into jail.
The suspended hotel worker was not at his home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires on Friday either – when police went to execute the court order to arrest him.
He “remains a fugitive,” Argentinian site Infoabae reports.
The police operation searched for Pereyra at home in the city of Lomas de Zamora, according to news site Clarin.
Pereyra and Braian Nahuel Paiz, 24, have both been charged with supplying Liam with drugs in exchange for money.
Paiz was arrested after cops arrived at his home on Friday after a judge gave the hotel worker 24 hours to hand himself in.
They could both face between four and 15 years if convicted.
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 earlier insisted his client 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.”
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.