One suspect faces charges of abandonment, while the other two are accused of supplying and facilitating drugs, including a hotel employee.
The former One Direction star tragically died on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires.
According to the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office, one individual who was with Payne has been charged with abandonment leading to death, as well as drug supply and facilitation.
Additionally, a hotel staff member and another individual have been charged with drug supply and facilitation. The authorities have not publicly identified those arrested.
Payne, 31, who rose to fame as a member of One Direction after appearing on The X Factor, was a prominent figure in pop music. Argentine authorities have been investigating his last moments at the CasaSur hotel, where substances, destroyed items, and damaged furniture were discovered in his room.
Staff at the hotel had previously alerted emergency services twice, reporting a guest who had consumed excessive drugs and alcohol and was causing severe damage to the room.
On Thursday, the prosecutor’s office confirmed that toxicology tests detected alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in Payne’s system.
The post-mortem examination concluded that the cause of death was “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage” due to the fall.
Medical reports indicated that Payne may have been in a state of partial or complete unconsciousness at the time of the fall, ruling out the possibility of a deliberate act, as he was unaware of his actions.
Payne’s body was released to his family on November 6 to be returned to the UK.
