Olympic boxer Luke Jackson returns to court over $150K suspected to be proceeds of crime

A high-profile Tasmanian boxer and former Olympian has made a brief phone appearance in a Hobart court after he allegedly tried to fly interstate with more than $150,000 cash in his luggage.

Luke Jackson captained the Australian team at the London 2012 Olympics. Picture: Richard Dobson

A high-profile Tasmanian boxer and former Olympian has made a brief phone appearance in a Hobart court after he allegedly tried to fly interstate with more than $150,000 cash in his luggage.

Luke Christopher Jackson, 38, has not yet entered a plea to one count of the Commonwealth offence, dealing with property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.

Mr Jackson, who now lives in the Sydney suburb of Alexandria and who is on bail, was dialled in by telephone to the Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday by phone, along with his lawyer Corey Cullen.

Rose Bollard, senior federal prosecutor for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, asked Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason for a six-week adjournment so the prosecution side could finalise its brief.

A 38-year-old Alexandria man being arrested at Hobart Airport on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Picture: AFP/ Tasmania Police

The matter was adjourned until February 8 next year.

Mr Jackson is one of Australia’s top boxers and captained the Australian team at the London 2012 Olympics.

Also known as “Action” Jackson, he has won 21 of his 23 bouts, including a recent rematch against Tyson Lantry in Sydney.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) previously said its officers conducted a routine baggage check at Hobart Airport early last month alongside Tasmania Police officers.

Police said they found a large amount of cash concealed inside the checked luggage of Mr Jackson, who was about to travel from Hobart to Sydney.

A 38-year-old Alexandria man being arrested at Hobart Airport on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Picture: AFP/ Tasmania Police

It was alleged the cash was hidden inside a green supermarket shopping bag inside his luggage, with another bundle of cash concealed inside the lining of his luggage.

AFP said its officers located and arrested Mr Jackson within the airport terminal, after he was allegedly unable to explain why he was travelling with that amount of cash.

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