[MSN] Canada. An man has been charged after a bronze statue of a famed Ukrainian poet was chopped off at the feet from its pedestal and carted away from a park in Oakville, Ont.

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Man charged in stolen statue case
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 3, 2007 | 11:46 AM ET 
CBC News 
An man has been charged after a bronze statue of a famed Ukrainian poet was
chopped off at the feet from its pedestal and carted away from a park in
Oakville, Ont.

Curtis Raae, 36, of Oakville faces charges of possessing stolen property
over $5,000. He was released from custody Tuesday and is scheduled to appear
in court on Jan. 30.

Another man was arrested but later released. No charges were laid against
him.

The massive two-tonne bronze figure was a likeness of 19th-century Ukrainian
poet and artist Taras Shevchenko, who is credited with establishing the
modern Ukrainian literary language. 

The head of the statue was recovered Tuesday at a Burlington metal recycler.

The owner told the Hamilton Spectator that he bought the head from two men
who said they were disposing of it on behalf of the town of Oakville.

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Instead of melting it down, the man kept it as a conversation piece - until
he discovered it was stolen. He then contacted police.  

Police are still searching for the rest of the statue, and are analyzing the
head for evidence. Police estimated the figure would be worth about $20,000
if sold as scrap metal.

The statue, seven metres tall including the marble pedestal and bronze
figure, was erected in the Shevchenko Memorial Park in 1951 to commemorate
the 60th anniversary of the settlement of Ukrainians in Canada.

Visitors to the park noticed the figure was missing on Dec. 31.

http://www.cbc.ca/