By Peter A. Sutters Jr.
Samarendra Biswas, 69, of 147-49 84th Rd. in Jamaica is co-owner of Reinwald Bakery at 236-03 Braddock Ave. was taken into custody Saturday after a female employee discovered a camera leading to a VCR in the women's bathroom, according to the DA.Biswas has been charged with unlawful surveillance in the second degree, a felony that could bring up to four years of jail time if he is convicted, the DA said. He was arraigned in Queens County Court last Monday and released on his own recognizance, according to the DA. He is scheduled to be back in court on March 7.Co-owner Arun Gosh, of Flushing, said he was not at the bakery over the weekend and did not know what happened. He said the store would reopen once the lawyers say it is all right to do so. He declined further comment.The two bought the bakery in 2002 from the previous owner, according to a Creedmoor Civic Association newsletter.Biswas also used to worked at Laffey Associates, a Century 21 realtor, with offices in Queens and Long Island. A manager who did not give her name said Biswas had stopped working there and not been affiliated with the company in weeks.A milk deliveryman who wished to remain nameless waited outside the bakery wondering why it was closed on Tuesday and said he was surprised to hear the disturbing news.”Really?” said the man when told about the arrest. “I never would have thought.”He did say there were primarily young women working at the bakery.”They're mostly female, but there are different people working all the time,” he said. Dianne Rodriguez, 22, of the Bronx, works at Rockyhill Pharmacy next door and frequented the bakery, where she said the Biswas was pleasant when she went in to purchase a drink or baked goods.”He was always nice to me,” said Rodriguez. “Sometimes he would give me a discount on my soda.” Rodriguez said she talked to an employee of the bakery who arrived at work Tuesday morning only to find the store closed.”She was pretty distraught,” said Rodriguez. “She came in here to find out what was going on.” State Sen. Frank Padavan's (R-Bellerose) district office is on the same block as Reinwald and members of his staff often visited the bakery.One staff member, who did not want to be named, said the bakery used to be more of an attraction before it changed ownership.”They had the best baked goods in Queens,” said the staffer. “During holidays there would be a line down the block.” She added that since the new owners took over, the quality of the food had gone down as well as the number of people who patronize the establishment.That observation was backed up by Anthony and Louise Kuzniewski, who have lived in the neighborhood for 35 years and used to go to the bakery every week until recently.”It's not like it used to be,” said Louis while she and her husband were on their morning walk. Anthony Kuzniewski added that the quality and size of the baked goods have gone down recently and the couple have stopped making purchases at the bakery.”We used to go there every week, then once a month or so, then we stopped going all together,” he said. “We're surprised it's still open.”Reach reported Peter A. Sutters Jr. by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext. 173.
