Twist in alleged drug trafficking case against Payne Haas’ father ties to soccer star’s mother as she faces manslaughter charges

Lawyers for Broncos star Payne Haas’ mother are now helping her father as he faces the 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 manslaughter following a horrific car crash on the Gold Coast that claimed the lives of three members of her family.

Now his lawyers have also confirmed that they will also help Gregor defend himself after his arrest.

“We are helping Gregor. We are working with the (Australian) consulate (in Manila) to ensure it receives appropriate attention and services,” Abdul Reslan, a Sydney-based lawyer, told News Corp.

Mr Reslan said the case was still in the “early days” and no date had been set for an extradition hearing.

Haas family matriarch Uiatu “Joan” Taufua is facing manslaughter charges for her alleged role in a car crash that killed three people.

Lawyers representing Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, who is the 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 being charged over an accident in December 2022 near his 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 carrying Steffi Zimmer, her mother Susan Zimmer and her mother’s partner Chris Fawcett.

All three died, while Taufua, the sole survivor, faces charges of manslaughter, dangerous driving, evading police, drink-driving and driving without a license.

There is no suggestion that Payne or Klese Haas were involved in their parents’ alleged crimes.

The Brisbane Broncos have vowed to support their star prop 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 revealed that Haas is accused of shipping methamphetamines to Indonesia from Mexico, hidden in ceramic floor tiles.

The drugs were reportedly seized by Indonesian authorities, leading to serious charges being brought 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 bracelet as well as “Chace” for his late brother, linking them after scoring a try against Newcastle.

Philippine authorities said Haas was believed to have worked with the Sinaloa drug cartel.

“The drugs were seized by Indonesian authorities who later discovered, through testimony from the arrested drug couriers, that the packages had been sent by Haas from Guadalajara, Mexico,” Philippine authorities said.

Indonesian authorities accused Haas of trying to smuggle 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 arrest of its founder Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman and his son.

The dramatic arrest of Haas Snr 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 hailed the coordinated effort between local, Indonesian and Interpol investigators as “a major achievement of the BI (Bureau of Immigration) in its continued efforts to flush out foreign criminals wanted in the country.

However, the Philippine government has not yet confirmed whether it will allow Haas’ extradition without guaranteeing that he will not face the death penalty if convicted.

Haas is currently detained in Manila, awaiting deportation proceedings.

Donald Rothwell, a professor of international law at ANU, suggested that Haas could be used as a negotiating tool in the Philippines’ ongoing attempts to secure the return of Mary Jane Veloso, who is on Indonesia’s death row for over a decade.

In 2010, Veloso traveled to Indonesia under the pretext of working as a housekeeper, but was caught with heroin in her luggage. She claims the recruiters hid the drugs in her bag without her knowledge, which is at the heart of her plea for freedom.

Her case has received media attention in the Philippines, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is facing 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 would support Haas through diplomatic channels.

Rothwell also said Haas could challenge his extradition in Philippine courts, which could delay Indonesia’s efforts.

The last Australians executed in Indonesia were Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in 2015.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated Australia’s opposition to the death penalty.

“We will continue to make diplomatic representations in an appropriate manner,” he said.

“One of the things the Australian government does is stand up for Australian citizens and take appropriate steps through diplomacy.” And we will do it again on this occasion.