September 13, (THEWILL) – A 25-year-old American, Tyrese Haspil, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of his former boss, Fahim Saleh, in New York City.
Saleh, 33, was the founder and CEO of the Nigerian transportation company, Gokada. The ride-hailing service started in Nigeria in 2017 and expanded into logistics and food delivery in 2020.
Haspil, who served as Saleh’s executive assistant, was in July, convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree grand larceny, and other charges by a New York State Supreme Court jury.
“The sentencing follows Haspil’s shocking crime in July 2020, where he embezzled funds from Saleh and subsequently killed him to cover his tracks”, prosecutors said.
Detailing the incident, Prosecutors told the court: “Surveillance footage captured Haspil entering Saleh’s Lower Manhattan apartment building on July 13, 2020, following him into the elevator.
“Once inside the apartment, Haspil used a taser on Saleh before stabbing him repeatedly, resulting in Saleh’s death. The next day, Haspil returned to dismember and decapitate Saleh’s body, placing the parts in construction bags, as documented by the district attorney’s office.
“Saleh’s cousin discovered the grisly scene after not hearing from him for 24 hours and promptly alerted the police. He was, however, apprehended four days later at an Airbnb he had rented to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday.
“Haspil had been embezzling funds from Saleh since 2018, setting up fake PayPal and corporate bank accounts to funnel the money. Despite resigning in May 2019, Haspil continued his fraudulent activities, ultimately stealing approximately $400,000.”
Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg Jr., commented on the case, stating, “Today, Tyrese Haspil is facing accountability for brutally murdering and decapitating Fahim Saleh, a kind, generous, and empathetic person who positively impacted the world.
“Even after the defendant stole from him to fund a lavish lifestyle, Mr Saleh still gave him a second chance. While today’s sentence won’t bring Mr Saleh back, I hope it provides his family a sense of closure as they continue to mourn his painful loss.”
The Gokada founder’s company issued a tribute following his death, stressing his dedication to Nigeria and its youth.
“Fahim believed that technology could transform lives and improve safety and efficiency. He built Gokada to act upon these beliefs”, it said.
