MONTREAL - All signs point to the speedy return of Dr. Arthur Porter and his wife Pamela as the couple, now locked up in a Panamanian detention centre, will likely not fight their extradition to Canada.
Arthur Porter and his wife Pamela were arrested on Monday at the airport in Panama City and face money laundering and conspiracy charges, while Arthur also faces fraud charges related to the construction of the English superhospital.
Porter, who is apparently gravely ill with lung cancer, might be lured back by better conditions in Canadian confinement than that of the Panama jail he'd likely be forced to stay in.
“If his resisting extradition seems futile and he is detained under difficult conditions, he’d probably be very motivated to return to Canada to be confined in better conditions and fight the charges and defend himself, as his is right, and even apply for bail,” said Montreal criminal defense attorney Eric Sutton.
Camera crews caught a frail-looking Porter walking with authorities Wednesday, carrying medical equipment presumably required for his own treatment. When asked if he would fight the extradition, Porter appeared to shake his head to answer in the negative.
Nonetheless, the Porters could decide to contest the extradition and/or appeal a decision to extradite, taking it to a higher court in Panama.
Such a move could delay extradition for years.
Canada has an extradition treaty with Panama and it's likely the Porters will have a judicial hearing, however lawyers in Panama reportedly say the decision to extradite is administrative, and the Porters may not even meet a judge before a decision is made.
After his initial arrest in Panama, Arthur Porter used a diplomatic passport and remained free until the following morning, when police realized the diplomatic provisions should not apply.
Porter then apparently tried to flee Panama on a flight to Trinidad.
The attempted flight could lead a judge to deny Porter bail while the case is argued in court, which means he would be stuck in a Panamanian detention centre for the entire extradition process.
