Sunshine Holdings Limited has filed legal action against a former employee over an alleged Internet theft that could incur "substantial damages" on the top holding company. Director of Sunshine Holdings Limited Kyron E. Strachan submitted an affidavit yesterday to the Supreme Court calling for the immediate restraint of Paul Shaw.

According to court documents, Shaw, who resigned from the company in May, was the executive responsible for the computer network, domains and email accounts for Sunshine Finance Limited and Arawak Homes Limited. Shaw first joined the company in September 2000. During his time with the company, he was the sole holder of all passwords and codes connected with the domains, the court document said, and upon his resignation, the defendant allegedly "failed to deliver to the plaintiff's the passwords, codes and other documents associated with its ownership of the said domain names".

Sunshine Holdings Limited claims it began experiencing technical difficulties on June 2 to its Internet and email network. After conducting an investigation, the company alleges that all of the domains had been transferred to an unknown entity, "which is seeking to sell and or transfer the plaintiff's domains". Indeed, upon visiting these sites, Guardian Business discovered that they have been altered. Sunshine Holding Limited's domain indicates that the page is "under construction" and will be updated soon. Arawak Homes, a leading Bahamian developer, stated "the domain owner may currently be creating a great site for this domain".

Sunshine Holdings Limited contends that Shaw was never given permission to transfer or sell the domain names of the company. The plaintiff claims that the alleged Internet theft was confirmed yesterday after Providence Technology Group was hired to assess the holding company's network. The group reported that the domains had been transferred, according to the documents, and the registered agent for the domains was Shaw.

"This unlawful transfer of the plaintiff's domains is causing great damage to the plaintiff and has compromised the privacy of its employees' business correspondences," the document stated. "Additionally, the plaintiff has been advised of the attack to the plaintiff's domains and leaves them vulnerable to pseudo-companies being established assuming the identity and emails of the employees of the plaintiff." Not only do the companies rely heavily on their internet presence, the theft of email addresses is connected to business accounts. The plaintiff is appealing to the Supreme Court, saying it believes the defendant is poised to transfer or use the domains and emails of these companies for his own benefit. "The plaintiff will suffer substantial damages, such that it finds it urgent to make this application ex-parte," the court document said.

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