UPAC sends investigators to Panama to confirm Arthur Porter's death

Quebec's anti-corruption unit is sending two investigators to Panama to confirm the death of Arthur Porter.

"We have received no official confirmation of the death of Arthur Porter from Panamanian authorities," UPACsaid in a statement Thursday.

"We have also not received the evidence required to validate the authenticity of a body."

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Earlier Thursday, the prosecutor handling the multi-million dollarfraud case involving theformerMcGillUniversity Health Centre CEO said she wants Quebec police to verify that he is actually dead.

Pamela Porter told CBC Wednesday her 59-year-old husbanddied ofcancer the day before in Panama, where he was in jail fightingextradition to Canada to face fraud charges.

Dr. KarolSikora, a U.K. cancer specialist and longtime friend of Arthur Porter, also told CBC thatPorterdied of metastatic lung cancer at 11 p.m. local time Tuesday.

Police allegePorterreceived $11.25 million in secret commissions for rigging the contract to build the new McGillUniversity Health Centre superhospitalin SNC-Lavalin's favour.

Marie-HleneGiroux,the prosecutor in charge of the caseagainst Porter andseven others accused of fraud, said she wants to see officialreports establishing Porter's death, including an autopsy report with supporting DNA and biometric information.

Girouxtold Radio-Canada Thursdayshe's asked provincial police to do what's necessary to verify Porter's death, including travelling to Panama if required.

In an email to Radio-Canada, a spokesperson for Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs would only say the department is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Panama and that consular officials are in contact with local authorities togathermore information.

Quebec Premier PhilippeCouillard, who founded a medical-related company with Porter in 2010 before his return to politics, was asked Thursday about the reports of the death.

"My only comment...is this is a sad ending for a very sad story,"he told a news conference in Roberval, Que.

Family issues statement

Porter, a medical doctor andcancer specialist, had been diagnosed with the diseasein January of2013. After he was arrested on an international warrant in Panama City in May2013, he treated himself with experimental drugs while in La Joya prison andfighting extradition to Canada.

In recent weeks, he was moved to Santo Tomas Oncology Hospital for diagnostic work.

On Thursday, Pamela Porteremailed a statement to CBCshe said was written by Porter's daughters:

"Whilst the media report the news of Arthur's death with stories of alleged crime and corruption our family mourns the loss of a dearly loved husband, father and friend.

As they focus on his business and political dealings we remember a man of incomparable intellect, wit, charm and integrity whose focus was always on providing the best care he could for his patients. He achieved more in his 59 years than most even dream to accomplish in a lifetime.

We would like to thank those who have supported us, and continue to do so, during this difficult time."