Seol, South Korea ? Disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk denied embezzling research funds and testified Tuesday that part of the money went toward failed attempts to clone mammoths, extinct relatives of today’s elephants.

Hwang is on trial on charges of misappropriating funds, embezzlement and illegally purchasing human eggs for stem cell research. Five of his colleagues face the same charges. Prosecutors completed their first round of questioning Tuesday.

“Not a single penny was spent for personal use,” said Hwang, whose purported breakthroughs in creating stem cells from cloned human embryos unraveled in scandal last year.

The defendants’ lawyers will begin their cross-examination at the next trial hearing in September.

Hwang also said he did not deceive donors who supported his stem cell research, insisting he did not realize his internationally heralded innovations were faked.

“I am also a victim who was deceived. I am the biggest victim,” he said.

Hwang was indicted in May for allegedly accepting $2.1 million in private donations based on the outcome of the falsified research and embezzling about $850,000 in private and government research funds. If convicted, he faces at least three years in prison.

Hwang said some of the money was used to clone mammoths, using tissues of the extinct animal obtained from glaciers. His team also had tried to clone tigers.

Hwang admitted to using some of the funds not specifically as intended but said “all the money was used for the purpose of research.” Some went toward housing for his researchers, gifts and tours for visiting foreign scholars, and meals for government officials, he said.