Panama Papers trial’s public portion ends sooner than expected

The Supreme Court in Panama City where the trial is being held (AP Photo/Agustin Herrera)

The public portion of a trial of more than two dozen associates accused of helping some of the world’s richest people hide their wealth came to an unexpectedly speedy conclusion on Friday when a Panamanian judge said she would take the two weeks of trial arguments and evidence under advisement.

The trial came eight years after 11 million leaked secret financial documents that became known as the “Panama Papers” prompted the resignation of the prime minister of Iceland and brought scrutiny to the then-leaders of Argentina and Ukraine, Chinese politicians, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others.