A 48-year-old Indian-origin hospital worker in Long Island has admitted to secretly recording around 13,000 people, including patients and staff, in restrooms at a sleep disorder centre, reports said.
Sanjai Syamaprasad, a Brooklyn resident and father, pleaded guilty to the charges after initially entering a not guilty plea. He worked the night shift at the Northwell Sleep Disorders Center in Manhasset, Long Island, between July 2023 and April 2024.
Syamaprasad placed a hidden camera disguised as a smoke detector in nine bathroom areas. The camera was mounted using velcro dots and recorded areas including showers and toilets.
Investigators said he may have purchased his first covert recording device in August 2022.
Despite the scale of the violation, Syamaprasad will not face jail time. He was sentenced to five years of probation. Prosecutors had recovered more than 300 videos showing images of hundreds of victims, including a child. However, charges could only be filed based on the identities of five victims.
He was caught watching the recorded bathroom footage on his phone at work by co-workers and was later dismissed from his job.
The Nassau County District Attorney had recommended a jail term of one to three years for each count, but the court accepted the plea deal.
