Sanjai Syamaprasad, a 48-year-old hospital worker based in Long Island, has pleaded guilty to unlawfully recording up to 13,000 patients and staff members in restrooms at two Northwell Health facilities. Disguising a hidden camera as a smoke detector, he filmed visitors and employees without consent between July 2023 and April 2024. Despite the scope of the breach, he received a sentence of five years’ probation instead of jail time.
Covert Camera Setup and Evidence Tampering
While working overnight shifts at Northwell’s Sleep Disorders Centre and STARS Rehabilitation Centre in Manhasset, Syamaprasad installed small cameras disguised as smoke detectors in nine bathroom stalls. The devices—mounted using Velcro dots—were repositioned during shifts to record activities at toilets and showers. At the shift’s end, footage was transferred to SD cards, which he later attempted to destroy by discarding a broken camera and memory card at a CVS dumpster.
Investigators recovered over 300 videos, though only five victims—including a child—were successfully identified due to difficulties confirming identities. He was charged with five counts of unlawful surveillance and two counts of tampering with evidence. Initially pleading not guilty, he later changed his plea.
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Public Outrage and Civil Litigation
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly voiced sharp disapproval of the probation sentence. She had recommended consecutive prison terms of one to three years per count, arguing the plea deal minimises the gravity of the violations. “This case deserved jail time,” she stated, calling the breach a massive violation of privacy and rights.
Class-action lawsuits filed against Syamaprasad and Northwell Health are now underway. The hospital has sent notices to around 13,000 potential victims who may have used the restrooms during the relevant timeframe. However, attorneys believe the actual number of affected individuals may be higher.