A 25-year-old American man, Tyrese Haspil, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in jail for the murder of his former boss, Fahim Saleh, 33, in New York Metropolis.
Saleh was the founder and CEO of Nigerian transportation firm, Gokada.
Individuals.com stories that Haspil, who labored as Saleh’s government assistant, had been embezzling funds from his employer and killed him to keep away from being caught.
Haspil’s sentencing adopted his conviction by a New York State Supreme Court docket jury two months in the past.
He was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide, second-degree grand larceny and different fees.
The Manhattan District Legal professional, Alvin Bragg Jr., in a press launch on Tuesday, mentioned, “Right this moment, Tyrese Haspil is dealing with accountability for brutally murdering and decapitating Fahim Saleh, a sort, beneficiant, and empathetic one who positively impacted the world.
“Even after the defendant stole from him to fund a lavish life-style, Mr. Saleh nonetheless gave him a second probability. Whereas at the moment’s sentence received’t carry Mr. Saleh again, I hope it gives his household a way of closure as they proceed to mourn his painful loss.”
Based on prosecutors, surveillance footage captured Haspil coming into Saleh’s condominium constructing in Decrease Manhattan on July 13, 2020, and following him into the elevator.
Upon exiting the elevator, which led immediately into Saleh’s condominium, Haspil deployed a taser in opposition to Saleh’s again after which repeatedly stabbed him within the neck and torso with a knife, leading to his loss of life.
The following day, Haspil returned to the condominium the place he “dismembered and decapitated Mr. Saleh’s physique utilizing the noticed and positioned the physique components in pre-ordered building luggage,” as acknowledged within the launch.
Saleh’s cousin made the invention after visiting his condominium to test on his welfare, having not acquired any communication from him in 24 hours. She instantly notified the police.
Prosecutors acknowledged that Haspil left the condominium to acquire a battery charger for the noticed however didn’t return after observing police within the constructing.
He was arrested 4 days later at an Airbnb location he had rented to have a good time his girlfriend’s birthday.
The Gokada founder had found Haspil’s embezzlement of 1000’s of {dollars} from his accounts, to which Haspil had entry as his government assistant since 2018.
The district legal professional’s workplace mentioned that Haspil arrange a Paypal account and a company checking account to funnel Saleh’s cash.
Haspil generated faux monetary statements and used a reputation that intently resembled these of official transactions, making it troublesome for Saleh to detect the embezzlement.
“Haspil resigned in Could 2019, realizing Mr. Saleh would be taught concerning the embezzlement, but continued to steal cash [and] growing the quantities,” prosecutors mentioned.
The district legal professional’s workplace reported that Haspil repaid Saleh utilizing funds obtained by means of the PayPal scheme, however the embezzlement continued, finally reaching an estimated complete of $400,000.
Based on prosecutors, Haspil had plotted to homicide Saleh not less than 3 times earlier than finally finishing up the crime in July 2020, reportedly in an try to cover the embezzlement and forestall Saleh from probably serving as a witness in opposition to him.
Saleh’s firm issued a press release after his passing, describing his dedication to Nigeria and its youth as “immeasurable.”
“He believed younger Nigerians are extraordinarily vibrant and proficient people who would flourish if simply given the appropriate alternative.
“Fahim additionally believed that expertise can remodel lives and enhance security and effectivity. He constructed Gokada to behave upon these beliefs,” the assertion learn.
Gokada is a ride-hailing service in Nigeria which launched in 2017 earlier than diversifying into Logistics and Meals Supply in 2020.