Disgraced cloning researcher convicted in South Korea

Hwang, who gained fame in 2004 when he claimed to be the first person to have cloned human embryonic stem cells, received a two-year prison sentence and three years' probation, Yonhap reported.

(...) In 2006, prosecutors said Hwang masterminded the process of creating false studies on stem-cell technology. They also backed up his assertion that assistant researcher Kim Sun-jong deceived him with fake data that became part of the research.

Prosecutors said Kim smuggled in-vitro fertilized stem cells into Hwang's lab to make it look as though the scientist was successful in creating stem cells through cloning.

Hwang was charged with accepting 2 billion won ($2.1 million at the time of charges) in private donations based on falsified research, prosecutors said. They also accused him of embezzling about 800 million won ($856,000 at the time of charges) in private and government research funds.