Hwang Woosuk's sentence upheld, but he avoids jail time

Science is reporting that disgraced South Korean scientist (see here, here, and here) Hwang Woosuk has failed to have his conviction overturn but he will stay out of jail:

Disgraced South Korean scientist Woo Suk Hwang had his conviction upheld yesterday by an appeals court in South Korea, which knocked 6 months off Hwang’s suspended sentence.

The court’s action means Hwang won’t have to serve time in jail if he stays out of trouble for 2 years. He was convicted last year of fraud and embezzlement and received a 2-year sentence, suspended for 3 years. Government prosecutors had asked for a 4-year sentence.

Both Hwang and the prosecution appealed last year’s conviction, and each has 1 week to appeal the latest ruling.

Given the ramping up of tensions on the Korean Peninsula recently, this news can mean only one thing: Clone army.