Builder's licence revoked

Yordan Michael Militch pretended to be a decorated war veteran.

A builder who masqueraded as an SAS soldier has had his building license revoked due to "negligent" work, a Government ministry says.

Yordan Michael Militch has been reprimanded for sub-standard work and potentially risking the Building Practitioners Board's integrity.

The board discovered in July 2013 that the Napier builder performed "negligent and incompetent work", a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) spokesman said.

Registrar of Building Practitioner Licensing Paul Hobbs said it was "concerning" that Militch did not show or demonstrate the competencies or skills expected or required of a licensed carpenter.

Militch carried out work that did not comply with a building consent and failed to provide a record of work on completion, Mr Hobbs said.

"The work undertaken by Militch was not complicated. He had clear instructions available on how it was to be carried out. However, despite the approved building consent plans being available on site, he did not carry out foundation work and other related building work in accordance with the plans."

Having a licensed building practitioner performing sub-standard work was a risk to the integrity of the scheme, Mr Hobbs said.

Militch's licence has been cancelled. He cannot be re-licensed for at least two years. His name has also been removed from the LBP register and he has been ordered to pay costs.

This ruling comes a year after Militch was outed for pretending to be an SAS soldier. He bought war medals off Trade Me and claimed to be a war hero. He spoke at public events about serving in Afghanistan and East Timor and described himself as a decorated war hero who saved his mates from dangerous situations.

His charade came to an end when off-duty police officers recognised Militch at a speaking engagement as the same man who had been warned for fraudulently wearing war medals.

He pleaded guilty last February to breaching the Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges Act 1918. He was convicted and fined $300 and ordered to pay $150 court costs.

Militch could not be contacted yesterday for comment. A post on his Facebook site late last year announced that he was giving up building.