The father of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas has become a Filipino citizen in a stunning move designed to help him avoid a possible death sentence in Indonesia after being accused of drug trafficking.
Gregor Haas was detained by police in Cebu City in May last year and was facing extradition to Indonesia, where he ran the risk of being executed or imprisoned for life if convicted over allegations he shipped methamphetamine into the country hidden in ceramic floor tiles from Mexico.
Five kilograms of the drug were allegedly seized by Indonesian authorities, with their counterparts in the Philippines alleging that Haas was working for Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa cartel.
Now it has been revealed that Haas made a secret bid to switch citizenship, which was granted when he won a court order on December 16 last year, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
He is now in the Camp Bagong immigration detention facility in Manila, the publication said.
Philippines authorities had been trying to decide whether to extradite him to Indonesia or deport him to Australia.
Payne Haas’s father Gregor is pictured while in detention in the Philippines after he was accused of trafficking five kilograms of methamphetamine into Indonesia
Haas (pictured right with his footy star son Payne) could face execution or life imprisonment if found guilty in Indonesia
The fact he won the order granting him citizenship should make it unlikely he would be sent to Indonesia, with the Philippines believed to be reluctant to allow one of their citizens to face the severe penalties awaiting him if found guilty.
The Philippines Bureau of Immigration has appealed the granting of the court order, but Haas’s lawyer Abdul Reslan told the publication the order granting his release is still in effect and he has not been made aware of why the 46-year-old has not been freed.
Reslan is now petitioning the federal government to get his client back home. Gregor Haas has denied all allegations against him.
‘Conditions are very difficult – he is losing weight rapidly, has limited food and nutrition, and is in an unhygienic and dangerous environment,’ Reslan told the publication, adding that Haas had lost 30kg since being detained.
‘We seek urgent government intervention and assistance in the repatriation of Mr Haas to Australia, removing him from the perilous conditions he is being subjected to.’
When Haas was first detained, Indonesian National Narcotics Agency spokesman Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono said they have been trying to track Haas down ever since 5kg of methamphetamine was allegedly found at an undisclosed location in December.
‘We have good cooperation with Australian police, so we will work with them too,’ he said.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he opposed the death penalty and said he would be speaking to the Prime Minister and the Attorney General about the case.
Gregor Haas’s detention coincided with his wife, Payne’s mother Joan Taufua, facing manslaughter charges over a car crash that killed three people in the Gold Coast hinterland in December 2022.
Police allege Ms Taufua – who remains in custody on remand – was behind the wheel of a black 2017 Mercedes wagon which collided with two other cars in Bonogin just before 5pm on December 30 that year.
The crash killed Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Ms Zimmer’s 35-year-old daughter Steffanie.