Middle man can’t work in security

Struck-off security guard Junior Tino Fulutusi insists he is “not a bad person”, despite getting involved as a “money mule” in financial scams.

The Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority disagreed and cancelled his certificate to work in the security industry.

The authority said that Fulutusi acted as a middle man for a financial scammer, who arranged for money to be transferred from the victims’ bank accounts to Fulutusi’s account.

Fulutusi then rapidly withdrew the money using his eftpos card and deposited it into other accounts or bought pre-paid cards for the scammer’s benefit.

He was allowed to keep a percentage of the money scammed as his fee.

Police initially charged Fulutusi with money laundering but he was convicted on March 26 on two charges of obtaining by deception.

He was sentenced to 40 hours of community work and ordered to pay reparation of $10,685.

Police complained to the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority, asking it to cancel Fulutusi’s Certificate of Approval to work as a loss prevention officer.

Loss prevention officers typically provide security services in a retail setting. The authority’s public register shows that Fulutusi has trained as a crowd controller, personal guard and property guard.

According to the authority’s recently released decision, Fulutusi said his convictions did not mean he was a bad person.

“He says he was scammed as well and thought what he did was legitimate,” authority head Trish Mcconnell said in the decision.

“He also says he is assisting police to find the people behind the scam.”

Fulutusi told Mcconnell that he always co-operated with police to keep customers safe at the stores where he worked.

However, she said that Fulutusi showed little insight into the seriousness of his offending.

“Mr Fulutusi’s convictions and sentences show that he was more than just an innocent victim caught up in a scam,” Mcconnell said.

“He acknowledges he got into it as he thought it was easy money.

“It should have been obvious to Mr Fulutusi that what he was getting himself involved with was a scam.”