Four-year jail term sought: Stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk, center, walks into the Seoul Central District Court Monday to attend a court hearing on alleged embezzlement and bioethics law violations linked to fake stem cell research. The prosecution sought a four-year prison term for the disgraced scientist. Hwang, once hailed as a global stem cell pioneer, was indicted in 2006 after an investigative TV journal and a group of scientists raised question about authenticity of key data in his two papers published in the journal Science, forcing the investigation by a university where he did his research. In a hearing in July 2006, the scientist admitted he fabricated data in a paper but said he was duped by junior researchers. / Korea Times |
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The prosecution Monday sought a four-year jail term for cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk for alleged embezzlement and bioethics law violations linked to fake stem cell research.
Sentences ranging from a suspended jail term to three years in prison are being sought for five other members of his now-defunct embryonic stem cell research team.
"He fabricated research outputs to show off his performances," a prosecutor said. "He committed a grave crime in that his behavior dealt a blow to the Korean science circle and disappointed numerous citizens."
The 57-year-old Hwang, touted as a global stem cell pioneer and treated as a national hero, was indicted in 2006 on charges of embezzling 2 billion won (then $2 million) of research funds from two domestic companies using fabricated reports.
Two other points being reviewed are whether he intentionally fabricated reports, and if he secured human eggs from donors in exchange for financial benefit, which is illegal in Korea.
An investigative TV program and a group of young scientists first raised skepticism of the authenticity of key data in his two papers published in the journal Science, forcing the investigation by the university where he did his research.
The institution, Seoul National University, later confirmed that all his scientific achievements were fabricated, dealing a devastating blow to South Korean scientists as well as dashing hopes of cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
He was later fired from his post as a professor at the school.
In a hearing in July 2006, the disgraced scientist admitted that he fabricated data in a paper but said he was duped by junior researchers.
Leaving the court, Hwang told reporters, "If given an opportunity, I will re-engage in research with full passion to realize the technology (to extract stem cells from human embryos)."
The prosecution demand came nearly three years after Hwang's first court appearance in June 2006, but it will take another two month for the court to hand down a ruling. The court said the verdict will be delivered on Oct. 19, citing more than 20,000 pages of documents to be reviewed.
pss@koreatimes.co.kr
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'600만명 학살 지휘' 잔인한 인물의 뒷얘기 공개
