S. Korean cloning scientist avoids jail

A disgraced South Korean stem cell scientist has escaped a jail sentence after being convicted on charges relating to his elaborately faked research.

The Seoul Central District Court gave Hwang Woo-suk a two-year prison term but suspended the sentence, providing he breaks no laws for the next three years.

Hwang gained worldwide attention in 2004 for claiming to have produced cloned human embryos and extracted stem cells from them.

He and his team later claimed to have created patient-specific stem cells from cloned human embryos, which would reduce the risk of the patient rejecting the cells.

Later investigations showed that he and his team had fabricated key data.

Hwang's widely publicized but fraudulent research raised false hopes for people with incurable diseases and brought international embarrassment to South Korea.

The Korean government stripped Hwang of his right to conduct stem cell research in 2006.

Hwang was charged with embezzling research funds totalling nearly $3 million and illegally buying human eggs.

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of four years in prison. Judge Bae Ki-yeol said Hwang had shown remorse and had made achievements in dog cloning.

Hwang and his team created the world's first cloned dog, Snuppy, in 2005. Independent tests found that the dog cloning was one aspect of the team's research that was genuine.

The scientist still has a loyal following in South Korea. Dozens of his supporters gathered outside the court Monday, chanting "we trust Dr. Hwang."