Tyrese Haspil gets 40-to-life jail term for Gokada founder murder

Tyrese Haspil, former personal assistant convicted of the murder of tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. The verdict comes after he was found guilty in June 2024 on charges including first-degree murder, grand larceny, and burglary. 

Fahim Saleh, a 33-year-old, founded Gokada, a motorcycle-based ride-hailing startup in Nigeria, and made strides in Africa's tech ecosystem. He also invested in other ventures, including Pathao, a ride-sharing firm in Bangladesh, where he was born. 

Haspil, hired as Saleh's assistant, was more or less a trusted aide. But, prosecutors revealed that shortly after employment, he began embezzling money from his boss. Saleh, known for generosity and an urge to help, discovered the theft of $35,000 and confronted Haspil earlier in 2020. 

Instead of pursuing legal action, he allowed Haspil to repay in installments. Unbeknownst to him, the theft went much deeper. At the time of his death, court documents reveal Haspil had siphoned off nothing less than $400,000.

Haspil, fearing the act would be uncovered, planned Saleh's murder to cover up. On July 13, 2020, he tracked Saleh’s movements. He followed him into the elevator of his luxury apartment building on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He attacked, incapacitated him with a Taser, before fatally stabbing him.

The next day, to dispose of the evidence, Haspil returned with tools to dismember. Surveillance footage revealed him accessing the building again, this time with an electric saw and cleaning supplies. The crime was interrupted when Saleh’s cousin came in to check on him. She discovered the gruesome scene and contacted law enforcement. 

Haspil fled but was already the main suspect. Police tracked him down days later at an Airbnb rental where he had been staying, reportedly preparing to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday. Investigators uncovered substantial evidence linking him to the crime.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors focused on his premeditated actions and attempts to erase the evidence. His defense argued he had been under financial pressure and panicked, yet the jury found him guilty on all major counts.

A particularly shocking revelation from the trial was Haspil’s claim his actions were designed to fund his girlfriend's lavish lifestyle. He went as far as asking the court for a heavier sentence, insisting that his crimes were rooted in his desire to keep up with pre-set demands. Explaining his motives, far from earning him sympathy, shows he betrayed Saleh in a cold and calculated manner.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who oversaw the prosecution, hammered on the senselessness of the crime and the tragic loss of a young entrepreneur with positive impact in multiple countries. Bragg said that while the 40-to-life sentence cannot bring Saleh back, it holds Haspil accountable.

"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," he said.

Fahim Saleh's family, yet devastated by the loss, expressed gratitude to the authorities for their thorough investigation and the resulting conviction. They remember Saleh as a kind-hearted and driven individual who wanted to improve lives through his tech ventures. 

Haspil’s sentencing marks the end of a tragic and high-profile case that shocked both the tech community and the general public. As he begins serving his term, the story stands as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the devastating consequences of betrayal.