Tyrese Haspil, a 25-year-old former executive assistant, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the brutal murder of his former boss, Fahim Saleh, the 33-year-old founder and CEO of Gokada, a Nigerian transportation company. The sentencing follows Haspil’s conviction by a New York State Supreme Court jury two months ago.
Saleh, an innovative entrepreneur, had given Haspil a second chance after discovering that his assistant had been embezzling from him. However, Haspil chose to kill him to cover up the theft of nearly $400,000 from Saleh’s accounts.
A Calculated and Gruesome Murder
The tragic event occurred on July 13, 2020, in Lower Manhattan. Surveillance footage showed Haspil following Saleh into the elevator of his apartment building. Once inside the apartment, Haspil incapacitated Saleh with a taser before stabbing him repeatedly in the neck and torso.
The next day, Haspil returned to the apartment, where he used an electric saw to dismember Saleh’s body, placing the remains in construction bags. Saleh’s cousin, who had grown concerned after not hearing from him, discovered the gruesome scene and alerted the police.
According to prosecutors, Haspil had left the apartment to purchase a battery charger for the saw but failed to return after noticing law enforcement officers in the building.
A Scheme of Deceit
Haspil’s theft from Saleh was a prolonged and elaborate scheme. As Saleh’s executive assistant since 2018, Haspil had access to his finances. Prosecutors detailed how he set up fake accounts and generated counterfeit financial statements, making it difficult for Saleh to detect the embezzlement. Despite resigning in 2019, Haspil continued to steal larger sums of money from his former employer.
After discovering the theft, Saleh chose not to press charges, instead offering Haspil an opportunity to repay the stolen funds. However, Haspil continued to funnel money from Saleh’s accounts while plotting the murder to prevent any legal consequences.
Closure for Saleh’s Family
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. acknowledged the brutal nature of the crime in a statement following the sentencing. “Today, Tyrese Haspil is facing accountability for brutally murdering and decapitating Fahim Saleh, a kind, generous, and empathetic person who positively impacted the world. 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.”
Haspil was arrested four days after the murder at an Airbnb, where he had been celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday.
A Legacy Cut Short
Fahim Saleh was an innovative entrepreneur with a vision for improving transportation and logistics in Nigeria. Gokada, the company he founded in 2017, initially started as a ride-hailing service before expanding into logistics and food delivery in 2020. His work was lauded for its positive impact on Nigeria’s youth and the country’s tech ecosystem.
Following his death, Gokada released a statement highlighting Saleh’s contributions to Nigeria. “He believed young Nigerians are extremely bright and talented individuals who would flourish if just given the right opportunity. Fahim also believed that technology can transform lives and improve safety and efficiency. He built Gokada to act upon these beliefs.”
Conclusion
Tyrese Haspil’s sentencing brings a tragic chapter to a close, but Fahim Saleh’s legacy will live on through the lives he impacted and the innovations he championed. While the justice system has held Haspil accountable, the world has lost a visionary entrepreneur whose work could have transformed many more lives.
