Fraud Trial Begins for Stem Cell Scientist

Disgraced South Korean cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk went on trial on charges of fraud and embezzlement in a scandal over faked stem cell research that undermined global hopes of new treatments for incurable diseases.

Hwang was indicted last month for allegedly accepting $2.1 million in private donations based on the outcome of the falsified research and embezzling about $831,000 in private and government research funds.

He also was accused of buying human eggs for research, a violation of the country’s bioethics law.

If convicted, the 53-year-old scientist faces at least three years in prison. Hwang is being tried along with five colleagues who face similar charges.