Man Who Beheaded Gokada Founder Gets Minimum 40 Years

A 25-year-old American, Tyrese Haspil, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the brutal murder of his former boss, Fahim Saleh. Saleh, a 33-year-old entrepreneur, was the founder and CEO of Gokada, a transportation company based in Nigeria.

Haspil’s sentencing came two months after a New York State Supreme Court jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree grand larceny, and other charges. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. released a statement following the sentencing, saying, “Today, Tyrese Haspil is facing accountability for brutally murdering and decapitating Fahim Saleh, a kind, generous, and empathetic person who positively impacted the world. 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.”

Prosecutors explained that on July 13, 2020, surveillance footage showed Haspil following Saleh into his apartment building in Lower Manhattan. After entering the elevator that led directly to Saleh’s residence, Haspil used a taser to immobilize him before stabbing him multiple times in the neck and torso, leading to his death. The next day, Haspil returned to the apartment, where he dismembered Saleh’s body and placed the remains in construction bags that had been pre-ordered.

Saleh’s body was found by his cousin, who went to check on him after not hearing from him for 24 hours. Upon discovering the gruesome scene, she immediately called the police. The investigation revealed that Haspil, who had been Saleh’s executive assistant since 2018, had embezzled nearly $400,000 from Saleh’s accounts. Despite discovering the theft, Saleh chose not to take legal action, instead giving Haspil the opportunity to repay the money. However, Haspil continued to steal, creating fake PayPal accounts and forging documents to conceal his actions.

Prosecutors also revealed that Haspil had previously planned to kill Saleh on several occasions before finally committing the murder in an attempt to cover up his theft and prevent Saleh from testifying against him. Haspil was arrested four days later at an Airbnb he had rented to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday.

Saleh’s tragic death shocked both the tech and business communities. Gokada, the company he founded in 2017, started as a ride-hailing service in Nigeria and later expanded into logistics and food delivery. The company praised Saleh’s dedication to Nigeria and its youth, stating, “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.”

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