Gerald Schatten

Prof. Gerald Schatten of America's University of Pittsburgh is sought by South Korean prosecution which is investigating Dr. Hwang Woo-Suk's embryonic cloning reserch fabrication.

A local news agency Yonhap reported on Jan. 3, 2006 that a special investigation team of Seoul Central Prosecution started investigating Prof. Schatten for his role in Hwang's research papers. Schatten is co-author of Hwang's 2005 embryonic cloning research papers for Science.

The Seoul Prosecution made an official request to Schatten for his cooperation with its investigation, according to Yonhap.

The prosecution asked Schatten to visit Seoul for the probe via Schatten's email. Under investigation are Schatten's papers' writing process, and his role in Hwang's paper.

A prosecution source told Yonhap that the Seoul Prosecution already sent email letters asking for cooperation in Hwang's case.

But, the prosecution was not successful in email request yet. It sent email letters to Schatten early January 2006, to no avail.

The prosecution will provide Schatten with airplane tickets and hotel accommodation in case he cooperates and comes to Seoul.

The prosecution will also investigate Korean research Park Jong-Hyuk, who works under Schatten at the same university. Park is the co-author with Hwang for Hwang's 2004 research paper. Presently, Park, who is staying in the United States, is expected to return to Seoul soon.

Meanwhile, the prosecution is analyzing two computers and other materials related to Hwang's research. They were seized from Hwang's relatives' houses and the houses of other researchers involved in Hwang's case.