A woman shopping at Forever 21 in June 2019 stumbled upon a voyeuristic incident involving Yin Yeung Derek Chan. Initially caught filming in a changing room, Chan was later revealed to have victimized at least 652 women and girls in Saanich, B.C., between 2017 and 2023. He recently received a 4.5-year prison sentence for voyeurism and creating child sexual abuse material, with over 2.5 years left to serve due to pre-trial custody.
The woman, whose identity remains protected, is now advocating for justice system reforms following the shocking scale of Chan’s crimes. She expressed disappointment in the sentencing outcome but emphasized the importance of awareness and closure for all victims involved. Authorities have been urged to release more information to assist potential victims in identifying if they were targeted.
The woman recalled the distressing encounter with Chan at the store and the subsequent relief upon his arrest. Despite the sentencing, she raised concerns about the adequacy of monitoring such offenders and emphasized the need for harsher penalties to deter future offenses facilitated by evolving digital technology.
Reflecting on the lasting impact of the incident, the woman highlighted the ongoing struggle for closure and the need for preventive measures to ensure public safety. She also empathized with other victims and stressed the importance of support and awareness in dealing with such traumatic experiences.
