by Mindy Aguon

Guam - A fired corrections officer is appealing his termination with the Civil Service Commission arguing he did nothing wrong.

Corrections officer Leodegario Buan may have been caught on camera getting a foot massage by a maximum security inmate while in uniform and on duty, but he contends it was his former employer that acted inappropriately. Buan was fired on January 7 following an investigation into a video that KUAM News to Department of Corrections director Jose San Agustin back in November.

"It's not acceptable at all," San Agustin said at the time. "If you ask me that's personal servitude. That's having a prisoner doing something illegal, inappropriate to a staff. That's not good."

Buan was placed on administrative leave for 20 days and then returned to work before he was fired earlier this month.

According to the two-page appeal filed with the CSC, Buan claims there was no misconduct or unlawful act and that management knew of the alleged misconduct for more than 60 days before terminating him.

Buan's attorney, John Terlaje, claims the action taken against his client is not only in violation of Buan's rights, but the law. The fired corrections officers has asked the Commission to accept his appeal, hold a hearing, and rule in his favor and revoke the termination, expunge his files and make him whole for losses and damages.

Buan alleging the department's actions, that he called "improper" have caused him severe economic and emotional suffering.

The Commission has yet to set a hearing date for Buan's appeal.