More victims identified in prolific voyeurism case in Greater Victoria

The Saanich Police Department (SPD) says more victims have come forward in the case of a man who secretly recorded hundreds of women and girls on Southern Vancouver Island.

Yin Yeung Derek Chan, 39, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to multiple voyeurism-related charges.

At the time of Chan’s sentencing, investigators had identified 40 victims. Since then, SPD said a significant number of people have contacted the department, resulting in more victims being identified.

“The detectives want to express their thanks to those that have already emailed and are asking for patience in receiving a response,” the department said in a statement.

Anyone who believes they may have been recorded can email investigators at [e-mail].

Police said between 2017 and 2023, Chan captured and shared images online of people on beaches, in parks, shops, and through the windows of their homes.

CTV News asked if SPD would disclose specific locations to help people understand if they may have been recorded. The department declined to share more details.

“We need to proceed carefully and with sensitivity towards victims when revealing specifics in this case,” SPD said.

Investigators are working to get the images pulled offline.

A Vancouver-based lawyer said Chan’s sentence reflects the severity of the crimes.

“The maximum sentence you can receive is five years under the Criminal Code for a voyeurism offence,” criminal defence lawyer Kyla Lee told CTV News.

“So this tells the public that this case is very, very close to being one of the worst things that you could imagine in terms of a voyeurism offence.”

With credit served for time in pretrial custody, Chan has about two and a half years left in his sentence.

He was previously convicted of voyeurism for filming a woman in a mall changeroom.