Clone scientist under graft probe suspended from academician title

BEIJING - The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) announced Saturday that it suspended the renowned clone scientist Li Ning, arrested for swindling research funds, will likely be stripped of the title of academician.

Li, a professor at the Chinese University of Agriculture on genetic breeding and cloning, was arrested in June for cheating state scientific research funds for a trans-gene biology project.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate confirmed in October that he was suspected of embezzling 20 million yuan (3.26 million US dollars) by producing false invoices and faking expenses.

According to the academy's constitution revised in June, as long as academicians breach laws, harm national interests or are found scientifically immoral, they will be stripped of the honor title.

Li will be deprived of the title if the court finds him guilty. If not, the CAE presidium will discuss and decide whether to withdraw the suspension.

In its two-decade history, the CAE, China's top academic institution on engineering, has never kicked out any academics.

Born in 1962, Li was elected the CAE academician in 2007 and considered one of the youngest and promising engineering scientists.