Disgraced South Korean cloning researcher found guilty

SEOUL - The South Korean scientist initially hailed as a cloning pioneer and national hero until an investigation found some faked research in cloning human embryonic stem cells was convicted Monday of embezzling research grants.

Hwang Woo Suk, 56, was found guilty by a Seoul court after a three-year trial, the national Yonhap News Agency reported.

The sentence was to be announced at a later hearing, but prosecutors were seeking four years in prison.

Hwang was the subject of a scandal over falsified data on 2004 and 2005 studies in which he not only claimed to have cloned human stem cells but also to have developed patient-specific stem cells.

His research gave rise to hopes for treatments for incurable diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Instead, Hwang was expelled from Seoul National University, banned from conducting human cloning research and put on trial.