Cairns Taipans star Jackson Makoi stood down following assault charges

Cairns Taipans guard Jackson Makoi has been stood down after being arrested and charged by NSW Police over an alleged domestic incident in 2023. CONTENT WARNING

Jackson Makoi has been arrested. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Cairns has stood down Olympian Jackson Makoi following his arrest and court appearance on domestic violence charges.

The 24-year-old Taipans guard, on Sunday, faced Parramatta Local Court on charges of common assault and intentionally choking a person with recklessness, which allegedly occurred in November 2023 in Sydney’s Oxley Park.

He was arrested at a hotel in Sydney Olympic Park prior to the Taipans’ loss to Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena.

Makoi, who represented South Sudan at the Paris Olympics, will face court again on January 15.

In a statement, released on Monday, the Taipans stood down Makoi, pending further court proceedings and Basketball Australia’s subsequent integrity unit investigation.

Jackson Makoi faces an uncertain NBL future. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“These charges are in relation to an incident in November 2023 when Makoi was not contracted by the Cairns Taipans,” the statement read.

“The club is taking these allegations very seriously and will provide no comment while the investigation is ongoing.”

Makoi spent two seasons as a development player with the Sydney Kings, appearing in 15 games during the club’s run to the NBL23 championship.

But he ruptured his right ACL right before the finals and only played in one game during NBL24.

Originally published as Cairns Taipans star Jackson Makoi stood down following assault charges