Chilean court to hear case of stolen statutes, artefacts

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A Chilean court said on Thursday it will hear a case against a businessman accused of hoarding statues, historic rifles and indigenous artefacts allegedly stolen from public parks, cemeteries and museums at his posh estate south of Santiago.

Raul Schuler, an agricultural entrepreneur from San Francisco de Mostazal, a small town ringed by wineries and fruit plantations, was charged with violating Chilean environmental laws that protect national monuments as well as regulations governing the possession of weapons, according to court filings.