Stone sculptor held on Easter Island, accused of moving stones

[emad]

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - A 71-year-old Canadian sculptor is being held on Chile's Easter Island, famed for its massive carved stone heads, after authorities accused him of moving stones from archeological sites to create "land art" figures, an official on the remote island said on Monday.

Bill Vazan of Montreal is accused of moving smaller rocks, not of damaging any of the giant moai statues, which are gradually eroding and are a carefully protected tourist magnet.

Vazan is not under arrest but must remain on the island while he is investigated on charges of damaging a historical monument, Carlos Soto, head of criminal investigations on the South Pacific island told Reuters by telephone.

Soto said Vazan created six large figures, two using stones believed to be archeologically significant. If found guilty he faces a fine of about $520 or up to three years in jail.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=857&ncid=757&e=10&u=/nm/20050418/od_uk_nm/oukoe_chile_sculptor

JUST shufflin' the deck...