Two years after his death, Arthur Porter legal saga comes to an end

CTV Montreal: Closing the books on Porter Canadian Courts wanted to make sure Arthur Porter was not faking his death.

Arthur Porter’s legal troubles came to an end on Friday, more than two years after the disgraced former McGill University Health Centre chief died.

On Friday, Quebec’s Crown Prosecutor filed documents confirming Porter’s death

“This morning, the Crown filed the death certificate for Arthur Porter alongside affidavits received last week from Panamian authorities,” said prosecutor Nathalie Kleber. “This ends the judicial process against Arthur Porter.”

Porter’s June, 2015 death of cancer in Panama was confirmed at the time by Quebec anti-corruption police and other investigators amid rumours he had faked his demise. At the time, he was awaiting extradition to Canada to face charges in connection to an alleged $22.5 million bribe from SNC-Lavalin to ensure the company received a $1.3 billion contract for work on the Glen superhospital.

A death certificate for Porter was issued but a judge said the court would need more proof before closing the case.

This was due, in part, to Porter's self-diagnosis of lung cancer, and his refusal to be seen by anyone outside his own circle of oncologists.

Porter was the chief oncologist at several hospitals in Canada and the United States before becoming the director and CEO of the MUHC in 2004.

Five of Porter’s co-accused are still awaiting trial for their alleged roles in the MUHC corruption scandal.

All five are due in court in September, though a start date for a trial has yet to be determined.