Gregor Haas’ extradition to Indonesia on drug charges delayed by Manila authorities

Philippines authorities say Gregor Haas, the father of Brisbane Broncos rugby league star Payne, cannot be deported to Indonesia until he answers pending criminal charges in Manila.

A picture from Indonesian authorities showing Gregor Johann Haas, arrested in Cebu, Philippines.

Philippines authorities say Gregor Haas, the father of Brisbane Broncos rugby league star Payne, cannot be deported to Indonesia – where he faces a possible death penalty for alleged drug smuggling – until he answers pending criminal charges in Manila.

Immigration spokeswoman Dana Sandoval told The Australian criminal charges had been laid against Mr Haas in a Manila court and he would have to remain in The Philippines until that case was concluded and any potential prison sentence served.

“There was already an order for deportation because he’s a fugitive but because he has a pending case in Philippines, we won’t be able to implement any deportation as of now,” she said.

While few details were available on the criminal charges, it was linked to a missing persons case and not drug related, she added.

“He will have to face court on that charge. If the court decides he needs to be jailed as a consequence of this case, he will have to serve time in a Philippines jail.”

Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas, left, and father Gregor Haas at the 2019 Dally M Awards in Sydney. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The decision will be a blow to Indonesian authorities, who revealed earlier this month that they had told Australian and Philippines officials they were prepared to take capital punishment off the table to secure his extradition.

Mr Haas, 46, was arrested in May on The Philippines’ island of Cebu on an Interpol red notice issued at the request of Indonesian police, who say he is wanted in relation to a 5kg shipment of crystal methamphetamine that was intercepted last December at Jakarta airport in a shipment of tiles from Mexico.

The country’s national narcotics agency (BNN) said accomplices involved in the illegal importation had claimed Mr Payne was the mastermind behind the shipment, which police suspect was sourced from the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.

BNN chief Marthinus Hukom has said the Queensland father of nine must answer questions in Indonesia over the drugs and over whether his Indonesian assets – which includes a tourist resort on Gili Trawangan island – were bought with the proceeds of crime.

A mugshot of Gregor Johann Haas following his arrest in Cebu province, Central Philippines. Picture: Philippine Bureau of Immigration via AP

Commissioner Marthinus told The Australian this month that Indonesia respected Australia’s legal regime, which opposed the death penalty, and authorities from all three countries were working to find a “middle ground”.

The drug agency chief – a former head of counter-terrorism unit Densus 88 that works closely with Australian Federal Police – claimed to have struck a “gentlemen’s agreement” last month with AFP commander Reece Kershaw to find a way to resolve the issue and expedite the extradition.

Ms Sandoval said she was not aware whether a date had been set for Mr Haas’s criminal hearing in Manila. In the meantime, Mr Haas continued to receive regular visits from family members and his Filippino lawyer at the overcrowded immigration detention centre from where he issued a public apology in June to his 24-year-old son Payne.