What the court records show
Court records obtained by CBC News reveal that Saanich, B.C. police were aware Yin Yeung Derek Chan, described as Canada's most prolific voyeur, was breaching his bail conditions by walking through businesses with a phone in hand, yet did not intervene for more than a month.
A Crown lawyer believed Chan was searching for new victims at a Fitness World and a Value Village, the same types of locations where he had previously recorded hundreds of women and girls without their knowledge.
Why it matters
The case raises pointed questions about how police handle known offenders who are out on bail and allegedly violating its terms in plain sight. When someone with a documented history of secretly filming victims in public businesses is seen doing it again, the gap between observation and action becomes the story, not just the original offence.
For a case already described as the largest of its kind in the country, the revelation that officers watched rather than acted adds a layer of accountability scrutiny that will likely follow Chan's case through the courts.
What's next
CBC News reports the details came from court records, suggesting the matter remains before the justice system. No word yet on whether Saanich police have responded to the inaction described in those records.
Source: CBC News
