Zeda Haas, brother of NRL star Payne Haas, has serious drug charges dismissed

Zeda Haas, the brother of NRL star Payne Haas, will weigh up his options over possible civil action against authorities after prosecutors withdrew all charges against him in relation to an alleged importation racket.

Zeda Haas (left), the brother of NRL star Payne Haas, has had two serious drug charges withdrawn.

The brother of NRL superstar Payne Haas will weigh up whether to take civil action against authorities after two significant drug charges were dropped almost eight months after his dramatic arrest.

Zeda Haas was facing one count each of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug after he was arrested in the passenger seat of a car at Beresfield, west of Newcastle, last August.

But prosecutors withdrew the charges – both of which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment – when they were mentioned in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, with Haas now free of any connection with what authorities had alleged was a drug importation ring.

Authorities had alleged the then 20-year-old Haas had been playing a “role” in the alleged importation of methamphetamine from the United States, claiming Haas was part of the supply chain because he had travelled from Queensland to Newcastle with another man, Kaharau Beer.

Beer, who is facing five serious drug charges, remains in custody on remand and before the courts. He has not been required to enter any pleas.

Zeda Haas, now aged 21, will meet with his lawyers to thrash out whether or not to sue authorities.

A court has heard Beer had allegedly taken part in the supply of 4.05kg of methamphetamine, including the parcel which he had allegedly taken possession of at Beresfield before police swooped.

It had also heard Haas had just been a passenger in the car, with a NSW Supreme Court judge describing the case against Haas as weak when his lawyers made a release application after he had spent almost a month in jail on remand.

Prosecutors withdrew both charges against Zeda Haas when they were mentioned in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.

Justice David Davies said in September that he couldn’t see “any basis” for keeping Haas in custody and bail refused, noting he did not have a criminal record.

“There can’t be any concern about anything at all except he might not appear because of the seriousness of the charge,” Justice Davies said.

“But when all he’s supposed to have done is be in the car when someone else picked up a package, I don’t see why he’d be worried about coming to court to say he knew nothing about it.”

The arrests made national headlines, with the brother of league star Payne in the dock on serious charges. There is no suggestion Payne Haas has been involved in any criminality.

And now, Zeda Haas’ lawyers are preparing to meet with the 21-year-old to decide whether he wishes to take matters further.

Solicitor Abdul Reslan confirmed there would be discussions about possible action in the civil courts after Zeda Haas spent almost a month behind bars on remand.