Stem cell scientist on trial over faked research

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

Hwang was indicted last month for allegedly accepting €2.5 million in private donations based on the outcome of the falsified research and embezzling about €660m in private and government research funds.

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