A 25-year-old American man, Tyrese Haspil, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the murder of Fahim Saleh, the 33-year-old CEO and founder of Nigerian transportation company Gokada. The sentencing took place after Haspil was found guilty by a New York State Supreme Court jury two months ago.
Haspil, who had worked as Saleh’s executive assistant, was convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree grand larceny, and other charges. According to prosecutors, Haspil had been embezzling nearly $400,000 from Saleh and carried out the murder to avoid being caught.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. said in a press release, “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.”
The Murder of Fahim Saleh
The tragic incident occurred on July 13, 2020, when surveillance footage captured Haspil entering Saleh’s Lower Manhattan apartment building and following him into the elevator. Upon reaching Saleh’s apartment, which the elevator opened directly into, Haspil used a taser to incapacitate Saleh before stabbing him multiple times in the neck and torso, leading to his death.
The following day, Haspil returned to the scene where he dismembered Saleh’s body using a saw, placing the remains in pre-ordered construction bags. Saleh’s cousin discovered the body after visiting the apartment due to a lack of communication from him for over 24 hours.
The Investigation and Arrest
Investigators revealed that Haspil left the apartment to purchase a battery charger for the saw but failed to return after noticing police at the scene. He was apprehended four days later at an Airbnb, where he had rented a space to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday.
According to prosecutors, Saleh had uncovered Haspil’s embezzlement, which spanned several years, but had offered him a second chance. However, Haspil continued to siphon funds, setting up a PayPal account and corporate bank account to divert Saleh’s money while generating fake financial records to conceal the theft.
Haspil’s Motive and Conviction
The court was told that Haspil had plotted to murder Saleh at least three times before carrying out the crime in an effort to prevent Saleh from serving as a witness in any potential legal action. His elaborate scheme, which began when he resigned as Saleh’s assistant in 2019, continued to unravel as the embezzlement grew to $400,000.
In the aftermath of the crime, Gokada issued a statement lauding Saleh’s impact on Nigeria’s youth and his dedication to improving technology in the country. “He believed young Nigerians are extremely bright and talented individuals who would flourish if just given the right opportunity,” the company said. “Fahim also believed that technology can transform lives and improve safety and efficiency. He built Gokada to act upon these beliefs.”
Founded in 2017, Gokada initially operated as a ride-hailing service in Nigeria before diversifying into logistics and food delivery in 2020.
Conclusion
While the sentence may bring some relief to Fahim Saleh’s family, the brutal nature of his death remains a stark reminder of how a betrayal of trust can lead to tragedy. Saleh’s contributions to Nigeria and the tech industry were cut short, but his legacy continues to inspire through the work he started with Gokada.