In a dressing room at Forever 21, a woman discovered a backpack with a cellphone peeking through a divider. This incident in June 2019 marked the beginning of Yin Yeung Derek Chan’s voyeurism offenses. Recently sentenced for what authorities describe as one of the most severe cases of voyeurism in Canada, Chan admitted to capturing numerous videos and photos of 652 women and girls in Saanich, B.C., from 2017 to 2023. He received a 4.5-year prison term for voyeurism and producing child sexual exploitation material.
The victim, who remains anonymous due to a publication ban, is now advocating for reforms within the justice system. She expressed her disbelief and disappointment upon learning the extent of Chan’s crimes and emphasized the need for comprehensive changes to prevent similar offenses in the future.
Following Chan’s sentencing, it was revealed that only 36 victims had been identified initially. Saanich police disclosed that additional victims had since been recognized, prompting calls from the B.C. Attorney General and the executive director of the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre for more information to be released to potentially affected individuals.
The victim hopes that all those filmed by Chan, especially the hundreds yet to be identified, will receive the necessary details to comprehend the situation and seek closure. She also stressed the urgency of enhancing the justice system to effectively address and deter such large-scale offenses.
Chan’s voyeurism was first exposed in 2019 when the victim noticed him filming her in the store changing room. Despite initial apprehension, she reported the incident to store staff, leading to Chan’s arrest after a subsequent attempt to film another person. Subsequently, Chan’s sentencing was delayed until 2022 due to pandemic-related court delays.
Disappointed by the lenient sentence Chan received, the victim raised concerns about the adequacy of police investigation and monitoring of Chan. She questioned why Chan’s extensive criminal activities went unnoticed for so long and believed that the justice system should impose stricter penalties and improved monitoring to combat evolving digital crimes like voyeurism.
Having endured the psychological impact of Chan’s actions, the victim continues to grapple with the aftermath. She advocates for ensuring that Chan does not reoffend upon his release and emphasizes the importance of closure for all victims affected by his crimes.