The Darwins keep their assets

PANAMA. The British tabloid the Daily Mirror said that the Canoe couple John and Anne Darwin may end up keeping £500,000 they made from faking his death because it is tied up in property in Panama.

According to them Panama is known as a haven for money launderers and, a year after the tricksters were jailed, has refused to reply to police trying to seize their assets.

Detective Inspector Dave Turnbull, of Cleveland police, said: "The fraud netted them over half a million pounds in cash but the benefit from that money is far more significant.

"We will argue that over six years they benefited considerably from their crime and built up considerable assets in Panama - land, flat, vehicles and a farm."We wrote a letter to the government there at the end of the trial to restrain the Darwin assets. But we have yet to hear back."

John Darwin, 58, faked his death in a canoe accident in 2002 off Seaton Carew, Cleveland.

He then went into hiding while his wife, 57, claimed he was missing at sea. Both were jailed for six years and six months. They appealed their sentences but were denied in 2009.