Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority: Guard punched elderly man who looked at him

The licensing authority said someone who reacted with violence to non-threatening situations was not suitable to work as a security guard.

A security guard punched an elderly man in the face several times because “the man was looking at him”.

The violence means that Junior Sula can no longer work as a licensed member of the security industry.

The 78-year-old man, whom Sula did not know, was sitting in his car at a petrol station at the time.

A decision from the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority does not make it clear whether Sula was working at the station or was off-duty when it happened.

Public records show that Sula was licensed in May 2024 after completing the necessary training and education.

He was authorised to work as a property guard, a personal guard, a crowd controller and a document destruction agent.

However, police complained about him to the security licensing authority after he pleaded guilty to hitting the pensioner.

Sula was discharged without conviction when the matter went to court. He has no other criminal record.

Trish McConnell is the chair of the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority which oversees the security guard and private investigator industries.

However, police said to the authority that Sula was unable to control his temper and responded to violence with “negligible” provocation.

They said this was inconsistent with the behaviour and character required of a security guard.

Sula did not attend the hearing where his fate was decided, nor make any other response to the police complaint.

“The victim of Mr Sula’s offending was not known to him and was sitting in his car at a petrol station,” authority chair Trish McConnell said.

“The only explanation Mr Sula gave for his offending at the time was that the man was looking at him,” McConnell said.

“I agree with the police submission that someone who reacts with violence to non-threatening situations is not suitable to work as a security guard.”

She said guards were required to de-escalate volatile situations rather than react with violence.

“They frequently face much greater provocation than being looked at the wrong way and must remain calm.”

McConnell cancelled Sula’s certificate of approval to work in the industry, effective immediately.

Ric Stevens spent many years working for the former New Zealand Press Association news agency, including as a political reporter at Parliament, before holding senior positions at various daily newspapers. He joined NZME’s Open Justice team in 2022 and is based in Hawke’s Bay.