Argentinian prosecutors probing Liam Payne’s death confirmed last night the arrests of three suspects who are now under formal investigation.
Several reports tonight said the trio had been ‘charged’ with offences, however sources familiar with the Argentine judicial system said they had instead been arrested and placed under official suspicion, and had not been formally indicted.
Authorities have not named a ‘friend’, who they are accusing of ‘abandoning a person followed by death’ in relation to the singer’s demise.
They are also accusing the individual of being complicit in the supply of drugs, crimes which are punishable by a prison sentence of up to 15 years on conviction.
Although they have not identified the person, their description appears to indicate it was Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores who had accompanied Liam in the days before he died.
Two hotel workers are also among the three individuals now being formally investigated by authorities, according to ABC News.
It comes after the One Direction star, 31, died after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palmero Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16.
In their third official statement released since the star’s death, public prosecutors revealed only alcohol, cocaine and an anti-depressant were found in the former One Direction singer’s system.
Despite previous speculation, they have ruled out that the pop star took his own life after falling from the balcony.
The statement from the investigation led by prosecutor Andrés Esteban Madrea confirmed ‘unlawful conduct’ was discovered in relation to the pop star’s death.
The statement read: ‘Three people were charged with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics.
‘From the beginning of the investigation and within a few days, exhaustive and meticulous actions and measures were carried out to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of the artist.’
They divulged that 800 hours of CCTV footage was examined as well as several dozen statements received from hotel staff, family, friends and medical professionals.
They confirmed that they had examined the pop star’s mobile phone in the investigation as well as the hotel guest registry as well as bar and restaurant orders.
They also confirmed that necessary thanatological and laboratory studies were carried out and completed during the post-mortem.
The statement continued: ‘As a result of the evidence gathered and after analysing the various bodies of evidence and numerous documentary annexes and the background of the case, prosecutor Andrea Madrea formally charged three people, requesting their indictment and detention in a 180-page report presented last Friday before Judge Bruniard.’
They confirmed that an individual who accompanied the artist on a daily basis during his stay in Buenos Aires has been charged with abandonment of a person followed by death.
The person in question has also been charged with the supply and facilitation of narcotics, according to authorities.
The second defendant who is a hotel worker has been charged with the supply of cocaine to Liam Payne during the period he was at the hotel.
The third person has also been charged with supplying narcotics to the pop star on October 14, prosecutors say.
It comes as Police investigating the death of Liam Payne raided the homes of two hotel employees and a ‘friend’ of the former One Direction singer on Tuesday in the province of Buenos Aires.
Toxicology reports, which have already been communicated with Liam’s family, revealed he had consumed alcohol, cocaine and a prescribed anti-depressant in the last 72-hours of his life.
An autopsy carried out by Forensic Medical Corps (CMF) concluded ‘polytraumatisms’ and ‘internal and external haemorrhage’ was the cause of pop star’s death.
Prosecutors confirmed that the injuries were ‘compatible with those produced by a fall from a height and that self-injury of any kind and/or the physical intervention of third parties has been ruled out’.
Post mortem findings also deduced that Liam may have fallen whilst in a ‘state of semi-or-total unconsciousness’, prosecutors say.
It comes amid confirmation that Liam Payne was flown back to the UK yesterday as the One Direction star’s body was finally released to his family.
Liam’s body had been held in Argentina while local officials completed further post-mortem tests.
Public prosecutor Andrés Madrea confirmed to the BBC that Liam’s body had been released to his family on Wednesday.
The singer’s father Geoff Payne has been in the country where his son died in recent weeks and was seen paying respects to his son and even joining mourners amid a sea of floral tributes.
Thousands of fans across the world gathered in the days and weeks following Liam’s passing with many breaking down in tears.
News of the singer’s repatriation comes shortly after reports in the Argentine press had claimed the necessary paperwork to allow for the singer’s body to return home were complete.
Geoff Payne was initially warned by investigators upon his arrival in Buenos Aires that it would take up to 15 days before all their examinations were over.
Liam had been in Argentina with long-term girlfriend Kate Cassidy, leaving the couple’s holiday to return home to the US two days prior to his death.
Liam Payne’s journey to superstardom began at only 14-years-old Liam impressed XFactor judges with his own version of Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra – but was later eliminated from the show.
However Payne gave his singing career another go auditioning for the competition again in 2010, where he quickly shot to fame as part of One Direction.
He and his former bandmates Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, were brought together by Simon Cowell and former judge Nicole Scherzinger who saw their potential as a group.
After just a few weeks of getting to know each other and non-stop rehearsing, the group impressed Simon at their Judge’s Houses audition and sailed through to the live shows.
The pop Svengali later admitted to Rolling Stone that it took him ‘about a millionth of a second’ to spot the group’s worldwide potential.
The fan reaction was instant too, with 1D hysteria soon dwarfing the show. Despite the adoration, the band ultimately finished in third place on the X Factor but shortly afterwards Cowell sealed their fate by signing the fivesome to a reported £2million Syco contract.
Keen to capitalise on the boys’ already devoted fanbase, Cowell moved quickly with recording for the band’s debut album beginning in January 2011.
By September of that year One Direction’s first single was released with What Makes You Beautiful soaring to number one on the UK Singles Chart, after becoming the most pre-ordered Sony Music Entertainment single in history.
Their debut album, Up All Night was also a best seller, becoming the UK’s fastest-selling debut album of 2011, with the record leading to their first tour which kicked off in the UK that December.
After Malik announced his departure from the band in 2016, the band members went their separate ways.
During their time as a group, One Direction won five Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, amassed over three billion YouTube views and sold 50 million records worldwide.
After releasing five albums with one of the biggest boybands of all time, Liam released his first solo album titled LP1 in 2019.
His singles Strip That Down co-written with Ed Sheeran climbed its way to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year.
Over the course of his music career, the popstar collaborated with the likes of J Balvin, French Montana, Dixie D’Amelio and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.