A British Columbia man was sentenced Thursday to four and a half years in prison for secretly recording hundreds of women and girls [2], [3].
The scale of the crime is described as unprecedented in the region, highlighting the severe privacy breaches and the ongoing challenge for police to notify all affected individuals.
Yin Yeung Derek Chan, 39, was sentenced on May 21, 2026 [3], [5] after pleading guilty to voyeurism charges. The court found that Chan engaged in a non-consensual filming scheme across the Greater Victoria region, specifically in Saanich [1], [2].
Investigations revealed that the illegal recordings took place over a period of six years, spanning from 2017 to 2023 [3], [4]. Police have identified an estimated 652 victims [1], a number that reflects the vast scope of the surveillance conducted by Chan.
Despite the sentencing, the investigation remains active. Authorities said they are still working to identify all the victims because many of the individuals captured in the recordings remain unknown [1], [2]. The process of reviewing the illicit material to find and notify victims is a primary focus for local law enforcement.
Chan's actions involved the secret filming of women and girls in various locations throughout the community [1], [2]. The sentencing marks the conclusion of the judicial phase for the defendant, though the impact on the victims continues as the identification process unfolds [3].
“Yin Yeung Derek Chan was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.”
This case underscores the significant legal and investigative hurdles associated with large-scale digital voyeurism. The disparity between the number of identified victims and the total volume of illicit material suggests that many individuals may remain unaware of the breach of their privacy, extending the psychological impact of the crime beyond the courtroom verdict.
