Extraordinary death penalty. The father of Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas, Gregor Haas, has taken an unexpected step in an effort to evade a potential death sentence in Indonesia following allegations of drug trafficking.
Haas, who was arrested in Cebu City, Philippines, in May last year, was facing possible extradition to Indonesia, where he could have been sentenced to death or life in prison if convicted of smuggling methamphetamine. Authorities claim he was involved in shipping the drug, concealed in ceramic floor tiles from Mexico, into Indonesia.
According to reports, five kilograms of methamphetamine were seized, and Philippine officials suspect Haas was working for the infamous Sinaloa cartel.
In a recent development, it has been revealed that Haas secretly sought to change his citizenship, a request that was granted by a court order on December 16 last year, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Currently, Haas remains in Manila’s Camp Bagong immigration detention facility while Philippine officials weigh their options—whether to extradite him to Indonesia or deport him to Australia.
His newly acquired Filipino citizenship is expected to complicate any extradition to Indonesia, as the Philippines is reportedly reluctant to send one of its own citizens to face severe punishment.
However, the Philippines Bureau of Immigration has appealed the court’s decision to grant him citizenship. Haas’ lawyer, Abdul Reslan, has stated that the court order allowing his release remains in effect and questioned why his client has not yet been freed.
Reslan is now urging the Australian federal government to intervene and bring Haas back home.
“Conditions are very difficult—he is rapidly losing weight, has inadequate food and nutrition, and is in an unhygienic and dangerous environment,” Reslan said, adding that Haas has lost 30kg since his detention.
“We are seeking urgent government assistance to repatriate Mr. Haas to Australia and remove him from these perilous conditions.”
Indonesian authorities had been pursuing Haas since five kilograms of methamphetamine were allegedly discovered at an undisclosed location in December. Indonesian National Narcotics Agency spokesman Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono previously stated that Indonesia had been working closely with Australian police on the case.
Meanwhile, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers reaffirmed his opposition to the death penalty and said he would consult with the Prime Minister and Attorney General regarding Haas’ case. Extraordinary death penalty.
Extraordinary death penalty, Family Legal Troubles Continue
Gregor Haas’ legal troubles come as his wife, Payne’s mother Joan Taufua, faces manslaughter charges following a tragic car accident in December 2022 that claimed the lives of three people in the Gold Coast hinterland.
Authorities allege Taufua was driving a black Mercedes wagon when it collided with two other vehicles in Bonogin, killing 70-year-old Susan Zimmer, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Zimmer’s 35-year-old daughter Steffanie. Taufua remains in custody on remand.
Amidst these legal battles, Payne Haas has been taking care of his two younger siblings. He has previously spoken about how his challenging upbringing has prepared him to cope with his family’s difficulties.
“I’ve had to take things on the chin and not let it rattle me,” he shared.
He credited his resilience to his upbringing, stating that his parents’ toughness shaped him and his siblings.
“You have to have thick skin and be mentally tough, given what I was surrounded by,” Haas said. “I’ve learned that if you focus too much on proving people wrong, it can backfire. I’ve got good people around me to help with that.”
