Indian-origin hospital worker gets 5-yr jail for filming 13k people with spy cams in smoke detectors in bathrooms

An Indian-origin hospital worker, Sanjai Syamaprasad (47), has pleaded guilty to secretly recording patients and staff, up to 13,000 individuals, using a hidden camera disguised as a smoke detector in restrooms. 

According to reports, Syamaprasad was sentenced to five years of probation, avoiding jail time after entering a guilty plea.

In April 2025, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T Donnelly announced that Syamaprasad was indicted on charges of unlawful surveillance and tampering with evidence for allegedly installing a hidden camera located inside of a false smoke detector in public bathrooms in a sleep center in Manhasset between July 2023 and April 2024 and destroying evidence of the recordings.

“The allegations against this defendant are sickening and disturbing. Sanjai Syamaprasad allegedly used hidden cameras secreted in smoke detectors to capture hundreds of videos of patients in bathrooms at a sleep and rehabilitation center, including children. In a further violation, the defendant allegedly even watched some of the videos on his computer while at work,” said DA Donnelly.

“Knowing that law enforcement was closing in, the defendant allegedly tried to cover his tracks, breaking up and disposing of the memory card to destroy any evidence of the recordings. We all expect professionals working in medical care to respect and value patient privacy. When they do not, and their actions are criminal, my office will pursue prosecution.”

DA Donnelly said that between at least July 2023 and April 2024, the defendant, a former employee of the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Centre in Manhasset, allegedly affixed a hidden camera made to look like a smoke detector using Velcro discs on the walls inside staff and multiple patient bathrooms within the sleep center and in a public bathroom at STARS Rehabilitation, located in the same building as the sleep centre.

Throughout this time period, the cameras captured recordings of approximately hundreds of individuals while they were using the bathrooms.

Based on images recovered and reviewed by NCDA investigators, five individuals were identified on the videos, including a child.

The defendant allegedly removed the camera at the end of his shift and downloaded the footage onto an SD card.

Despite the seriousness of the crime, recent reports stated that Syamaprasad was sentenced to five years of probation, avoiding jail time after entering a guilty plea.