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Huge twist as footy star Payne Haas's dad fights to avoid death by firing squad after allegedly trafficking a huge amount of meth
There is renewed hope that the father of two NRL stars may be allowed to return to Australia and avoid the death penalty in Indonesia, more than a year after he was arrested on serious drug trafficking charges.
Gregor Haas, father of NSW State of Origin star Payne Haas and Gold Coast Titans forward Klese Haas, was detained in Cebu City, Philippines, in May 2024 following a red notice issued by Interpol at the request of Indonesian authorities.
That red notice has now been lifted after a successful appeal by Haas' Australian legal team, which could pave the way for a return home.
Investigators allege that in December 2023, Haas attempted to smuggle five kilograms of methamphetamine from Mexico to Jakarta, allegedly hiding the drugs inside ceramic tiles.
The case allegedly links him to the powerful Mexican Sinaloa cartel, though Haas has consistently denied any involvement.
He says he has never visited Mexico and believes the allegations stem from a business dispute related to a resort deal in Indonesia.
Following his arrest, Haas was held at Camp Bagong Diwa, a notoriously harsh immigration detention centre in Manila.
Over the past year, his health has deteriorated significantly. According to his lawyer, he has lost 30 kilograms and is receiving inadequate medical care.
The red notice issued by Interpol is sent to law enforcement bodies globally and enabled Indonesia to request provisional arrest while pursuing extradition.
If extradited and convicted, Haas could face execution by firing squad under Indonesian law.
While Indonesia initially offered assurances that the death penalty would not be imposed, those promises were made under former president Joko Widodo.
His successor, Prabowo Subianto, has yet to confirm whether that stance will hold.
In December 2024, a Philippine court found that Haas was also a Filipino citizen by birth through his mother.
However, the Bureau of Immigration appealed the decision, and the ruling was later overturned, keeping him in detention.
Then, in a major legal breakthrough on June 2, 2025, Interpol revoked the red notice against Haas.
His legal team argued that the notice was based on inaccurate and unfounded information and violated international human rights conventions.
Interpol accepted those arguments, agreeing that enforcing the notice could lead to torture or death, and deleted the associated data.
Australian lawyer Abdul Reslan, representing Haas, called on the Philippines to act swiftly to release and deport him to Australia.
'We now urge the Philippines to ensure the expeditious release and repatriation of Haas to Australia,' he said.
He told SMH that if the Philippines does not comply with international norms, the Australian government must step in and formally demand Haas' repatriation.
He emphasised that Haas holds an Australian passport and should not be detained by a foreign government now that the red notice has been removed.
It is rare for Interpol to revoke a red notice, particularly one issued by a democratic nation such as Indonesia.
Phillip Gibson, a defence lawyer specialising in international crime, said the decision was significant and raised expectations that the Philippines would follow suit.
The case has become a diplomatic flashpoint, putting strain on Australia's relationships with both Indonesia and the Philippines.
Australia strongly opposes capital punishment and has laws preventing the extradition of citizens to face execution abroad.
Indonesia has also proposed a prisoner exchange involving Haas and Alice Guo, a former Philippine mayor arrested in Indonesia and accused of links to Chinese organised crime. No deal has been finalised.
The situation unfolds amid wider negotiations between Australia and Indonesia, including a separate agreement last year in which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secured the release of five remaining Bali Nine inmates still serving life sentences.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Haas but declined to comment further due to privacy rules.
Meanwhile, the personal toll on Haas' family continues to grow.
Payne and Klese's mother, Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua, remains in custody in Queensland over a 2022 car crash in Bonogin that killed three people. She has been charged with three counts of manslaughter and is yet to enter a plea.
Payne Haas has not commented publicly on his father's legal battle. The NSW Blues forward is expected to take the field for State of Origin II in Perth on Wednesday night.
