'On the run' hotel employee in Liam Payne death investigation hands himself in to police

Liam Payne remembered during tributes at The Royal Variety Performance

The "on the run" hotel worker accused of supplying drugs to Liam Payne has surrendered to the police just days after failing to meet an arrest warrant deadline issued in Buenos Aires.

According to respected local newspaper La Nacion, Ezequiel David Pereyra, 21, handed himself in alongside his lawyer at a location near his Lomas de Zamora home. His unnamed lawyer confirmed he would surrender himself to authorities.

Ezequiel, who was suspended from his hotel job, was charged on December 27 by Judge Laura Bruniard with supplying cocaine to Liam shortly before his death at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on October 16.

Prosecutors allege he sold the drug to One Direction star at 3:25am on October 15 and again the following afternoon to "consume it during his hotel stay."

CCTV footage and witness testimonies reportedly corroborate claims that Liam gave Ezequiel $100 for narcotics and sent a car to his house for additional transactions.

Liam Payne hotel employee 'on the run' hands himself in to police (Image: Getty)

Prosecutors said Ezequiel faces a potential sentence of four to 15 years if convicted. A source told La Nacion: "After Friday’s operation at his home and other locations, Ezequiel felt the pressure and surrendered with the help of his lawyer."

Ezequiel’s surrender follows the arrest of Braian Paiz, 24. Braian admitted to taking drugs with Liam and was also charged with supplying narcotics for payment.

Braian denies selling drugs to Liam, though he admits to consuming them together at the hotel. His lawyer, Fernando Madeo, has described the case as a "witch hunt" driven by desperation to find scapegoats.

Liam's friend Rogelio 'Roger' Nores, hotel receptionist Esteban Grassi, and head of security Gilda have been charged with manslaughter over their alleged negligence. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison but remain free as the case progresses.

Liam's funeral was held on November 20 (Image: Getty)

Judge Bruniard accused Roger of "failing in his duty of care" and claimed he abandoned Liam despite knowing of his severe intoxication.

Roger, who admits leaving the singer at the hotel hours before he died has denied these allegations, telling TMZ: "I never abandoned Liam... I left the hotel 40 minutes before this happened. I could never have imagined something like this would occur."

Roger, who cannot leave Argentina while under investigation, said Liam was in "good spirits" the day he died and denied acting as his manager. "He was my very dear friend," he stated earlier.

The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office revealed "alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants" were present in the pop star's body.

Their report also dismissed the possibility of suicide, stating that “in the state he was in, he did not know what he was doing and could not understand it".