Rail officer jailed after bashing commuter
The train union has called for better training of railway officers after one pleaded guilty to bashing a commuter in a station toilet.
The victim, Michael Kemp, was struck several times, while two other officers allegedly watched.
Former Connex officer Paul Saluni pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury to the victim.
The court heard the intoxicated victim was attacked while in the toilet of the Moorabbin railway station in February 2009.
Mr Kemp collapsed when he left the toilet - the prosecution claimed Saluni and fellow officers watched as he lay on the ground for more than two minutes - and then walked past him.
Saluni's counsel said during his eight years at Connex, he suffered abuse and racial torment. He was forced to deal with suicides, and claimed he was not trained to deal with such situations.
It is a point backed by the union, which will now take up training issues with the State Government.
Union spokesman Trevor Dobbin told 7NEWS: "It's the toughest job in public transport. They are regularly abused, attacked, and physically assaulted. They have to deal with suicides - it's a very, very stressful job.
"There's no doubt that the pressures that they're under on a day-to-day basis are huge and growing. I think that whatever we can do to ensure that they have better training we will do."
Saluni's counsel told the court his client was remorseful and had been affected by years of abuse on the front line.
The prosecution said the defendants job was to help keep the public safe but he ultimately breached the community's trust.
Michael Kemp sustained a chipped tooth and minor head injuries.
Saluni was handed a six-month jail term, with a minimum of two, and bailed pending appeal.
