- Gregor Haas allegedly brought methamphetamines into Indonesia
- Authorities claim he was working with the infamous drug cartel.
The father of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas has become a Filipino citizen in a shock move designed to help him avoid a possible death sentence in Indonesia after being charged with drug trafficking.
Gregor Haas was arrested by police in Cebu City in May last year and faced extradition to Indonesia, where he risked execution or life imprisonment if convicted over allegations that he had shipped methamphetamine to the country hidden in ceramic tiles from Mexico.
Indonesian authorities allegedly seized five kilograms of the drug, and their counterparts in the Philippines alleged that Haas was working for Mexico's infamous Sinaloa cartel.
It has now been revealed that Haas made a secret attempt to change the citizenship, which was granted to him when he won a court order on December 16 of last year, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
He is now in the Camp Bagong immigration detention center in Manila, according to the publication.
Philippine 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 detained in the Philippines after being accused of trafficking five kilograms of methamphetamine to Indonesia.
Haas (pictured right with his soccer star son, Payne) could face execution or life in prison if convicted in Indonesia.
The fact that he obtained the order granting him citizenship should make it unlikely that he would be sent to Indonesia, as the Philippines is believed to be reluctant to allow one of its citizens to face the severe penalties that await him if convicted.
The Philippine Immigration Bureau has appealed the granting of the court order, but Haas's lawyer, Abdul Reslan, told the publication that the order granting his release remains in effect and he has not been informed why the man 46 years has not been released. .
Reslan is now asking the federal government to return his client home.
“The 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 his arrest.
“We seek urgent government intervention and assistance in the repatriation of Mr Haas to Australia, removing him from the dangerous conditions to which he is being subjected.”
When Haas was first detained, Indonesian National Narcotics Agency spokesperson Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono said they had been trying to locate Haas since 5kg of methamphetamine was allegedly found at an undisclosed location in December.
“We have good cooperation with the Australian police, so we will also work with them,” he said.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he opposed the death penalty and said he would speak to the Prime Minister and the Attorney General about the case.
More to come…