Credit: Dreamstime
A Centre Com Sunshine former business development manager has agreed to pay the company $20,000 after he allegedly breached several terms of his employment contract.
According to a statement of claim filled by Centre Com Sunshine with the Magistrates Court of Victoria, Jacob Bettio allegedly took confidential information from the reseller and shared with a competitor.
On various occasions, Bettio, who was employed by Centre Com in February 2017, allegedly passed details of items Centre Com customers were seeking to a company called Betts Enterprises.
"In or about January 2018 the first defendant [Jacob Bettio] passed on details of a supplier used by the plaintiff [Centre Com] to Adrian Bettio or Betts Enterprises Pty Ltd to assist the Betts Enterprise in offering supplies of goods to the plaintiff's customers," the statement of claim seen by ARN stated.
Centre Com also claims that a list of its customers was passed to one of its competitors Computers Now. Specifically, a list of schools attached to an email from Bettio to CompNow.
The reseller also claimed the former employee allegedly didn't inform Centre Com for "secret" commissions or incentive payments obtained through the sale of goods to Centre Com customers.
In February 2018, Bettio asked for personal leave due to illness having on the same day attended a Centre Com customer to provide coaching services and allegedly personally charging the customer.
Centre Com also alleged that the former employee failed to return all confidential information on termination of his employment.
"The actions of the defendant were wilful, malicious, fraudulent, wanton and reckless," stated the claim.
Centre Com sought damages in the amount of up to $100,000.
Bettio filed a defence in June which, according to the reseller's lawyers, "largely failed to respond to the allegations against him".
In July, the former employee also filed a counterclaim alleging non-payment of some commission and some out of pocket expenses, discrimination – due to other staff speaking Chinese – harassment and a claim of defamation – based on a report by the company provided to some clients regarding the former employee alleged misconduct.
In August, both parties reached an agreement of a $20,000 payment from Bettio to Centre Com plus a written document stating he had destroyed all documents and copies derived from his employment with the reseller.
Centre Com has also agreed that the complaint be struck out and Bettio agreed the same regarding his counter claim.
Centre Com was established in 1998 as a computer equipment provider growing into a IT hardware retail chain in Victoria who also provides IT services focused on businesses, educational institutions and end users.
ARN had not received a response from Bettio or Computers Now at the time of writing.
