Lawyers for the mother of Broncos star Payne Haas are now helping his father as he faces a possible death penalty after being arrested in the Philippines for alleged drug trafficking.
Gregor Johann Haas, 46, was arrested by police in Cebu City, Philippines on Wednesday.
He is expected to be extradited to Jakarta to face drug trafficking charges in Indonesia. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment or execution by firing squad.
Haas’ mother Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua is on trial for alleged manslaughter following a horrific car crash on the Gold Coast that left three family members dead.
Now her lawyers have also confirmed that they will also help Gregor defend himself following his arrest.
‘We assist Gregor. We work together with the [Australian] consulate [in Manila] to ensure he receives the right attention and service,” Sydney-based lawyer Abdul Reslan said News Corp.
Mr Reslan said the case was still in its early stages and no date had been set for an extradition hearing.
Haas family matriach Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua is charged with manslaughter for her alleged role in a traffic accident that left three people dead
The lawyers representing Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, mother of NRL stars Payne (pictured) and Klese Haas, will also represent their father
King’s Law also represents Taufua, who has been in prison since she was charged over a December 2022 accident near her home in Bonogin in the Gold Coast hinterland.
Taufua, the mother of Payne and Klese Haas, is accused of fleeing police before crashing into a vehicle occupied by Steffi Zimmer, her mother Susan Zimmer and her mother’s partner Chris Fawcett.
All three died, while Taufua, the sole survivor, is charged with manslaughter, dangerous driving, evading police, drink driving and driving without a licence.
There is no evidence that Payne or Klese Haas are involved in their parents’ alleged crimes.
The Brisbane Broncos have vowed to stand by their star man Payne, while Gold Coast Titans forward Klese sent a message of support to his father after scoring a try against Newcastle on Saturday.
Philippine police have revealed that Haas is accused of shipping methamphetamine from Mexico to Indonesia hidden in ceramic floor tiles.
The drugs were reportedly seized by Indonesian authorities, leading to the serious charges against him.
Gregor Haas was arrested last Wednesday in Cebu City in the Philippines (photo) and charged with drug trafficking in Indonesia
Klese Haas paid tribute to his father on Saturday by writing ‘Papa’ on his wristband, along with ‘Chace’ for his late brother, and linked them after scoring a try against Newcastle
Philippine authorities have stated that Haas is alleged to have collaborated with the Sinaloa drug cartel.
“The drugs were seized by Indonesian authorities, who later discovered through testimonies of arrested drug couriers that the packages had been shipped by Haas from Guadalajara, Mexico,” Philippine authorities said.
Indonesian officials have accused Haas of smuggling more than five kilograms of methamphetamine into the country on December 11, 2023, hidden in floor tiles.
The Sinaloa Cartel, also known as the Guzmán-Zambada Organization or the Pacific Cartel, is a notorious international crime syndicate based in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
It is one of Mexico’s oldest, largest and most violent criminal groups, retaining strong influence despite the arrests of founder Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and his son.
Haas Snr’s dramatic arrest was recorded by Philippine authorities on Wednesday
Payne Haas is pictured with his father at the 2019 NRL Dally M Awards
Philippine Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco called the coordinated effort between local, Indonesian and Interpol investigators “a major achievement of the BI.” [Bureau of Immigration] in its continued efforts to flush out wanted foreign criminals in the country.”
However, the Philippine government has not yet confirmed whether it will allow Haas’s extradition without a guarantee that he will not face the death penalty if convicted.
Haas is currently being held in Manila pending deportation proceedings.
ANU international law professor Donald Rothwell suggested Haas could be used as a negotiating tool in the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to secure the return of Mary Jane Veloso, who has been on death row in Indonesia for more than a decade.
In 2010, Veloso traveled to Indonesia under the pretext of working as a maid, but was caught with heroin in her luggage. She claims recruiters hid the drugs in her bag without her knowledge, which is central to her plea for freedom.
Her case has received widespread media attention in the Philippines, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is under pressure to negotiate her return.
Indonesian authorities are working to have Haas (pictured after his arrest) extradited to Jakarta to face criminal charges
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured with Souths co-owner Russell Crowe) said Australia will support Haas through diplomatic channels
Rothwell also said Haas could challenge his extradition in Philippine courts, potentially delaying Indonesia’s efforts.
The last Australians executed in Indonesia were Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in 2015.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated Australia’s opposition to the death penalty on Sunday.
“We will continue to make appropriate diplomatic representations,” he said.
“One of the things the Australian government is doing is standing up for Australian citizens and taking appropriate action through diplomatic channels. And we’re going to do that again this time.’
