Security guard pushed into burning car

A GOLD Coast security guard is in a serious condition after he was pushed against a burning car overnight by two suspected arsonists.

Police said a security guard was walking to his car parked on Brendan Dr in Nerang about 11.30pm after his shift when he noticed two other men standing nearby.

The security guard said one of men then allegedly assaulted him while the other set fire to the car.

During the altercation, it is alleged the man pushed the security guard against the burning car, setting his clothes alight and causing extensive burns to his body.

The two men fled the scene on foot.

Fire crews arrived a short time later and had extinguished the blaze by 11.50pm.

Ambulance officers treated the 50-year-old man from Pacific Pines for smoke inhalation before taking him to the Gold Coast Hospital with burns to 20 per cent of his body.

He has since been transferred to the Royal Brisbane Hospital for surgery.

Police are still confirming details surrounding the incident and investigations are continuing.

They are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au.

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Jail guard in fines rort loses job

A JAIL guard has lost his job after trying to get a prisoner to take responsibility for his driving fines.

The officer was accused of contacting the mother of the maximum-security prisoner and trying to persuade her to get involved.

The guard, from privately run Port Phillip Prison at Laverton, wanted the woman to instruct her son to say he was behind the wheel of the guard's car at the time of the breaches, but she refused.

It is believed the fines, which amounted to hundreds of dollars, were incurred on tollway provider CityLink.

An internal jail investigation is believed to have uncovered evidence of the ill-fated scam.

The officer was suspended for having inappropriate dealings with the family of a prisoner and later resigned.

The mother would have left herself exposed to perjury charges had she become involved in the scam.

G4S, the company that runs Port Phillip, declined to comment on details.

A statement from the firm said: "An officer was subjected to an internal investigation and suspended. The officer is no longer employed by G4S."

The prisoner whose mother was contacted is on remand for driving offences.

The Herald Sun revealed in August that a new corruption-busting unit would tackle crime in the state's jails following security failings exposed in the 2010 death of Carl Williams at Barwon Prison and allegations crooked officers were involved in a drug ring with killer bikie Christopher Wayne Hudson.

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun understands a man found dead at Port Phillip Prison last weekend was doing time for stabbing to death a man to whom he owed a drug debt.

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