Security guard’s approval cancelled after criminal convictions

A security guard has had his certificate of approval cancelled after being convicted of threatening to kill a man and damage his car.

The Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority cancelled Minute Lotonu’u’s certificate following a hearing on October 12, after police sought the action over his convictions for two charges of intimidation and threat on September 22, Stuff has reported.

The authority said the convictions were categorised as offences of violence and provided grounds for disqualification under the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act.

According to the authority’s decision, Lotonu’u drove to the victim’s property and waited for him to return home before threatening to kill him and smash up his car.

The victim then drove to a local police station, but Lotonu’u followed him and continued making threats, Stuff reported.

Lotonu’u did not attend the hearing, respond to the police complaint or apply for a waiver of the grounds for disqualification.

The authority noted that Lotonu’u had previously held a certificate of approval for five years without any other issues and had no prior convictions.

It said a penalty less severe than cancellation could have been considered if he had attended the hearing and provided information demonstrating that he had learnt from his mistakes and that similar behaviour would not happen again.

However, without such information, the authority determined that the nature and circumstances of the offending meant Lotonu’u was no longer suitable to work as a responsible security worker.

His certificate of approval was cancelled with immediate effect, Stuff reported.

Lotonu’u was also ordered to return his security identification card to the authority within seven days of receiving the decision.