- Gregor Haas speaks for the first time from prison
- He could face a firing squad in Indonesia if convicted
Payne Haas’ father Gregor has been forced to get a journalist to pass a moving message to his son as he languishes in a Philippine jail after being arrested on serious drug charges.
The 46-year-old was arrested in Cebu City last Wednesday in dramatic scenes and is now expected to be extradited to Indonesia to face drug trafficking charges after police accused him of smuggling methamphetamine into the country hidden in tiles.
On Tuesday, Haas spoke for the first time since being jailed and revealed the chilling reminder of the fate that could await him if convicted, as he received a channel seven reporter to convey his words to his soccer star son.
“He asked me if he could send a message to his son, Payne, and tell him that he loves him and that he’s sorry,” said journalist Rachel Baxter.
Gregor Haas appears in a mugshot taken by Philippine police after his arrest in Cebu City last Wednesday.
The 46-year-old sent a touching message to his son Payne (pictured together at the 2019 Dally M Awards) as he waits to find out if he will be extradited to Indonesia.
Indonesia has the death penalty for drug trafficking, a fact Haas faces daily because his cell is “right next to a shooting range… where the police practiced using their weapons,” he added.
Haas revealed that none of his immediate family has been in contact with him and said conditions in the Philippine prison are oppressive, stating that the jail he is in “makes Australian prisons look like seven-star hotels.”
The Brisbane Broncos have vowed to support their star prop Payne, while Gold Coast Titans forward Klese Haas 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 5kg of methamphetamine to Indonesia from Mexico on December 11, 2023.
The drugs were allegedly seized by Indonesian authorities, leading to serious charges against them.
Gregor Haas was arrested in dramatic scenes last Wednesday after Indonesian police accused him of trafficking 5kg of methamphetamine into the country.
Haas (pictured) has also been accused of having ties to the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico.
Philippine authorities have stated that Haas allegedly worked with the Sinaloa drug cartel.
It is one of the oldest, largest and most violent criminal groups in Mexico and maintains a strong influence despite the arrests of its founder Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán and his son.
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 drive to expel wanted foreign criminals from the country.” “.
However, the Philippine government has not yet confirmed whether it will allow Haas to be extradited without assurances that he will not face the death penalty if convicted.