A 25-year-old American man, Tyrese Haspil, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the brutal murder of his former boss, Fahim Saleh, the founder and CEO of Nigerian transportation company Gokada.
The sentencing follows Haspil’s conviction by a New York State Supreme Court jury two months prior, where he was found guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree grand larceny, and other charges.
Haspil worked as Saleh’s executive assistant and had been embezzling funds from his employer.
When Saleh discovered the embezzlement, Haspil knew he would be caught and killed him to avoid accountability.
The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg Jr., stated, “Today, Tyrese Haspil is facing accountability for brutally murdering and decapitating Fahim Saleh, a kind, generous, and empathetic person who positively impacted the world.”
On July 13, 2020, Haspil entered Saleh’s apartment building in Lower Manhattan and followed him into the elevator.
Upon exiting the elevator, which led directly into Saleh’s apartment, Haspil deployed a taser against Saleh’s back and repeatedly stabbed him in the neck and torso with a knife, resulting in his death.
The next day, Haspil returned to the apartment, dismembered and decapitated Saleh’s body using a saw, and placed the body parts in pre-ordered construction bags.
Saleh’s cousin discovered his body after visiting his apartment to check on his welfare, having not received any communication from him in 24 hours.
She immediately notified the police. Haspil was arrested four days later at an Airbnb location he had rented to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday.
Prosecutors stated that Haspil had set up a Paypal account and a corporate bank account to funnel Saleh’s money.
He generated fake financial statements and used a name that closely resembled those of legitimate transactions, making it difficult for Saleh to detect the embezzlement.
He repaid Saleh using funds obtained through the PayPal scheme, but the embezzlement continued, ultimately reaching an estimated total of $400,000.
According to prosecutors, Haspil had plotted to murder Saleh at least three times before ultimately carrying out the crime in July 2020, reportedly in an attempt to hide the embezzlement and prevent Saleh from potentially serving as a witness against him.
After Saleh’s passing, his company issued a statement describing his dedication to Nigeria and its youth as “immeasurable.” “He believed young Nigerians are extremely bright and talented individuals who would flourish if just given the right opportunity.”
