In a surprising twist during the sentencing hearing for Tyrese Haspil, the man convicted of brutally murdering Gokada founder, Fahim Saleh, defied his own defense strategy.
More than two hours into the Manhattan Supreme Court proceeding, Haspil stunned the courtroom by disagreeing with his lawyer’s plea for a reduced sentence, stating, “Unlike my counsel, I don’t think anything less than life without parole would be appropriate.”
According to Weetracker.com, Haspil, now 25, had been found guilty of first-degree murder and other charges, including grand larceny and concealment of a human corpse, for the July 2020 killing of Saleh.
He had worked as Saleh’s personal assistant before their relationship descended into betrayal, theft, and ultimately murder.
Haspil was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years to life in prison.
Betrayal And Crime
Saleh, a tech founder, established Gokada, a prominent Nigerian motorcycle ride-hailing company, and was well-known for his innovative contributions to the tech scene.
Beyond Gokada, Saleh launched Adventure Capital, a venture fund that supported tech entrepreneurs in developing countries.
The relationship between Saleh and Haspil began in 2018 when the supposed young coding prodigy was hired to manage the entrepreneur’s finances.
However, by early 2020, Saleh discovered Haspil had embezzled USD 400K from him.
Instead of turning him over to authorities, Saleh offered Haspil an opportunity to repay the stolen funds, hoping to give him a second chance.
Unknown to him, Haspil continued to siphon money using a fake PayPal account and devised a plan to kill Saleh before the full extent of his embezzlement could be uncovered.
On July 13, 2020, Haspil, wearing a suit and mask, followed Saleh into his Manhattan apartment, incapacitated him with a Taser, and then fatally stabbed him in the neck and torso.
The next day, Haspil returned to dismember Saleh’s body with an electric saw, only to be interrupted when the saw’s battery died and he had to step out to purchase a charger.
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During his absence, Saleh’s cousin entered the apartment and discovered the gruesome crime scene.
Sentencing of Gokada Founder Killer
During the sentencing hearing, Roberts once again sought a lighter punishment, requesting that the court avoid a de facto life sentence.
However, in a shocking moment, Haspil contradicted his attorney’s efforts, signalling his acceptance of the gravity of his crime.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice April Newbauer, in her sentencing, emphasised that greed had driven the young man to commit the murder.
“One person had it, another took it and wanted to keep taking it without consequences, at all costs. This is the very essence of greed,” she said.
In her victim impact statement, Saleh’s sister, Rifayat, expressed the devastation that Haspil’s betrayal had caused.
“You’re a con man, and you’re a murderer. I have no sympathy for you,” she told the court.
Saleh’s father, Ahmed, described the murder as “sickening,” adding, “He should spend the rest of his years in prison where he belongs.”
Haspil’s conviction and sentencing mark the end of a tragic saga of betrayal and greed, a tale that serves as a painful reminder of the dangers of misplaced trust.
Haspil will serve 40 years to life in prison for the brutal murder of Saleh.
The sentencing brings a degree of closure to Saleh’s family and the tech community, but the loss of such a promising and compassionate entrepreneur leaves a void that cannot be filled.
