[News] Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes attempted to flee US, prosecutors claim

[Yunna]

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes attempted to flee the US shortly after her conviction on fraud charges last year, prosecutors claim.

According to a new court filing, the 38-year-old bought a one-way ticket to Mexico last January.

"Only after the government raised this unauthorised flight... was the trip cancelled," prosecutors said.

Holmes was convicted for defrauding investors in her blood testing start-up that was once valued at $9bn (£7.5bn).

The former Silicon Valley star falsely claimed the technology could diagnose disease with just a few drops of blood. But it did not work and - facing multiple lawsuits - the company was dissolved in 2018.

The latest court filing, which was submitted on Thursday, also said Holmes's partner had bought a one-way ticket to Mexico.

"The government anticipates [Holmes] will note in reply that she did not in fact leave the country as scheduled - but it is difficult to know with certainty what [she] would have done had the government not intervened," prosecutors said.

The BBC has contacted a lawyer for Holmes to request comment.

 

Source: BBC News.