By CaraLynn Caulfield
A Brooklyn man has pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges for secretly recording patients — including a child — inside bathroom facilities at a Nassau County medical center where he worked as a sleep technician.
Sanjai Syamaprasad, 48, admitted on July 15 to five counts of Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree and two counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence, all E-level felonies, for planting a hidden camera disguised as a smoke detector inside bathrooms at the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center in Manhasset between July 2023 and April 2024. Prosecutors say the device was used to record patients and staff members in private moments, which Syamaprasad later reviewed on his work computer.
The misconduct came to light after a co-worker discovered the device. Northwell Health immediately terminated Syamaprasad, revoked his access to the premises, and referred the matter to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
“We were deeply disturbed when we first learned information regarding the conduct of the former employee,” said Barbara Osborn, Deputy Chief Public Relations Officer for Northwell Health. “Safeguarding the privacy of our patients and employees will always remain a high priority for us.”
Throughout the nearly yearlong period, Syamaprasad allegedly mounted the disguised camera inside staff and patient bathrooms at the sleep center, as well as a public restroom at STARS Rehabilitation, located in the same building. He then removed the device after each shift, downloaded the footage to an SD card, and watched the recordings during work hours.
A search warrant executed on April 25 at his Brooklyn home yielded multiple electronic devices, including three laptops, phones, and an SD card reader. Investigators later discovered that Syamaprasad had attempted to destroy evidence by discarding the camera and a broken SD card in a CVS trash can. A Nassau County police detective recovered the device from a nearby dumpster.
Authorities say the footage captured hundreds of individuals. Five victims — including one child — have been identified so far.
Syamaprasad was arrested later that day by DA detective investigators. He is expected to be sentenced to five years’ probation at his next court appearance on September 15, though prosecutors have recommended a prison term of one to three years per count, to be served consecutively.
“Patients who enter medical facilities expect and deserve their privacy to be protected, especially inside of sensitive locations like bathrooms,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. “This defendant, a medical professional himself, violated the trust that patients hold in these institutions and the people who care for them with his sickening behavior.”