A South Sudanese basketball player has been released on bail after being charged with domestic violence offences in Sydney.
Jackson Makoi, 24, who plays for the Cairns Taipans in the National Basketball League, was arrested at a hotel in Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday by officers from the Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team.
NSW Police said there was an outstanding warrant out for his arrest over an alleged incident in Oxley Park in November, 2023.
He was charged with common assault (domestic violence), and intentionally choking a person with recklessness (domestic violence), and spent the night behind bars before facing Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
Appearing under the name Anyiarbany Makoi, he was granted conditional bail requiring him to reside at a specific address, not enter an international airport, and not contact the alleged victim or witnesses, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Makoi, who represented South Sudan at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, was born in Egypt before moving to Melbourne, and then went to high school in the United States.
He joined the Cairns Taipans for the 2024-25 season, but in August 2024 was suspended for eight matches after being charged with drunk driving on the Gold Coast.
Makoi previously played for the Sydney Kings as a development player for two seasons.
The NBL said in a statement: “The NBL is aware of an incident involving Cairns Taipans player Jackson Makoi and has been advised he has been arrested. As this is now a matter for the NSW police and Basketball Australia’s Integrity Unit, the League is unable to comment further at this stage.”
Header image credit: Jackson Makoi (Instagram)
