NY Hospital Worker Admits to Secret Bathroom Cam Spying on 13,000 Patients
Long Island Hospital Worker Spared Jail Despite Filming Thousands in Bathrooms
A hospital employee on Long Island has admitted to secretly recording as many as 13,000 patients and staff members in bathroom facilities. Despite the severity of his actions, the judge sentenced him to only five years of probation, a decision that has sparked disappointment from prosecutors.
Sanjai Syamaprasad, 48, used a camera disguised as a smoke detector to covertly film individuals using restrooms at a Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center in Manhasset. He switched from an initial not guilty plea to a guilty plea on five counts of unlawful surveillance and two counts of evidence tampering.
Photos show Syamaprasad attempting to dispose of memory cards and recording devices into a dumpster near his Brooklyn residence, shortly after coworkers reportedly caught him viewing bathroom footage on his phone during work hours. The case was uncovered when another employee observed him watching bathroom videos on his laptop, leading to an investigation.
During court proceedings, Judge Meryl Berkowitz, who is nearing retirement after 26 years on the bench, acknowledged Syamaprasad’s remorse and participation in a treatment program. She sentenced him to five years probation, warning of harsher penalties if violated. The judge also criticized the prosecution for not pursuing jail time, emphasizing that the plea deal limited her sentencing options.
The facility involved has become the focus of multiple class-action lawsuits and investigations. Syamaprasad, who worked overnight shifts from July 2023 to April 2024, allegedly purchased his first covert recording device as early as August 2022 and captured thousands of recordings, some multiple times.
Northwell Health has sent out notices to about 13,000 potential victims, with estimates suggesting that the actual number affected could be even higher as authorities review extensive footage. Legal representatives have emphasized the devastating impact of this privacy breach and call for accountability and safeguards to ensure such violations never happen again.
