The wife of the “dead” canoeist was to appear in front of the magistrates on Tuesday for two charges of illegally obtaining almost 160,000 pounds after her husband was declared dead.

Anne Darwin, 55, was arrested on Sunday after she flew in from Atlanta, Georgia. In the last months she has been living in Panama after selling the couple’s home in northeast England, the Associated Press reports.

Her husband, John Darwin, 57, disappeared five years ago when he went canoeing in the North Sea off the coastal town of Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, Teesside, in March 2002. Only the remains of his canoe were found on a beach in Seaton Crew. In 2003 a coroner declared him dead.

On December 1 he went into a police station and said he was a missing person.

He appeared in court on Monday facing two charges: of illegally obtaining an insurance policy of £25,000 ($50,000) in May 2003 pretending he was dead, and making a false statement to get in the possession of a passport in October 2003.

He remained in the custody of police until his next appearance on December 14 at the same court via video link, CNN informs.

Anne is facing almost the same charges of deception in 2003 for acquiring separate money transfers of £25,000 and £137,000.

According to police, they will try to keep her in custody.

Police urged once more the public to help retrace the steps of Darwin in the missing years.

Detective Superintendent Tony Hutchinson from the northeast England's Cleveland Police force said that John might have used the name of “John Jones” and worn a long beard.

He said: “We need to know if anyone has seen John Darwin in United Kingdom after his 'death.'”

Darwin’s lawyer, John Nixon said: "He is desperate to see his wife, to be reunited with her. He is anxious to know about her well-being. It is their wedding anniversary in 10 days. They are going to spend their wedding day apart."

Apparently the couple had debts of thousands of pounds when Darwin disappeared.

Hutchinson declared at the news conference: "To John and Anne Darwin, we are talking about a huge amount of money. Whilst they may have taken some risks, they have been fairly successful for five years,"