S.Korean scientist apologizes, hints at conspiracy

SEOUL (Reuters) - Disgraced South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk apologized on Thursday for wrongdoing at his laboratory, but hinted at a conspiracy and said he had been crazed and blinded by his zeal in advancing stem-cell studies.

Underscoring Hwang's fall, prosecutors raided his home and offices on Thursday as part of a criminal probe into the alleged misuse of state funds.

An investigation panel at Seoul National University said on Tuesday a team led by the once-heralded Hwang had faked two landmark papers on embryonic stem cells, but did produce the world's first cloned dog.

They said there was no data to support the claims made in the two papers on embryonic stem cells, and data was intentionally fabricated. Both were published in the U.S. periodical Science.

"I take full responsibility for the papers and offer you my apology," a haggard Hwang told a news conference.

"My life will be spent undoing my wrongdoing. I can't ever repay the debt fully until I die. We've gone crazy, crazy about work and I've been blinded," Hwang said, close to tears.

Hwang -- who had become a hero for many South Koreans and the recipient of government support -- had been in seclusion since resigning from Seoul National University on December 23, when the panel said in an interim report that data in the papers was fabricated and Hwang was mostly to blame.

Hwang's stem-cell research had raised hope for those suffering from debilitating and deadly diseases because it seemed to hasten the day when genetically specific tissue could be grown to help repair damaged bodies and cure ailments such as severe spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease.

Hwang said he suspected people at a Seoul hospital that provided human eggs for his work had manipulated data, which caused the fraud in his team's two papers.

ONE MORE CHANCE

He said his team had submitted a paper on a new breakthrough, using a pig to develop human stem cells, which he said was even bigger than the achievement of producing a cloned dog.

Hwang also said he could still produce tailored embryonic stem cells if given a supply of human ova and six more months.

But with his credibility in tatters, Hwang may not get that second chance.

A Science and Technology Ministry official said the government had already cut off funding for Hwang's research and would supply no new funds.

"Up until now, nothing has been scientifically proven of his work in his stem cell studies. I do not think there are any more reasons to trust him," said professor Oh Il-hwan at the Catholic University in Seoul's medical school.

Hwang's news conference lasted about an hour and ended when he walked off stage to hugs from tearful laboratory assistants and supporters who had been flanking him.

The Seoul central prosecutor's office raided 26 places related to the research led by Hwang's team. These included his home and office, a Seoul hospital from which human eggs had been procured and the homes of team members, an official at the prosecutor's office said by telephone.

Teams took away personal computers and boxes of documents, said the official, who asked not to be identified.

Prior to the reported raids, prosecutors said Hwang might be subject to a criminal probe and added they would also investigate his claims that data was switched as part of a conspiracy to discredit him.

The crime of fraudulently obtaining state funds can be punished by up to 10 years in prison, local media reported.

(Additional reporting by Kim Yeon-hee and Lee Jin-joo)