Tyrese Haspil, a former personal assistant convicted of killing and dismembering his ex-boss, tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh, was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on Tuesday, according to Manhattan’s district attorney.
Haspil, 25, was found guilty in June of charges including murder and grand larceny, stemming from the 2020 killing of Saleh, who had founded several tech ventures, including a ride-hailing motorcycle startup in Nigeria.
Prosecutors revealed that Haspil had initially been hired to assist Saleh, but he soon began embezzling funds, stealing approximately $400,000 from Saleh’s businesses. Though Saleh discovered the theft, he offered Haspil a chance to avoid legal trouble by allowing him to repay the money over time. However, Haspil continued stealing, fearing that his actions would be uncovered.
On July 13, 2020, Haspil followed Saleh into the elevator of his luxury Manhattan apartment, dressed in a black suit and wearing a mask. When the elevator opened directly into Saleh’s apartment, Haspil shocked him with a Taser and stabbed him to death.
The next day, Haspil returned to dismember Saleh’s body using an electric saw, but when the saw’s battery ran out, he left to purchase a replacement. During his absence, Saleh’s cousin arrived and made the grisly discovery.
Haspil was arrested days later.
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“Today, Tyrese Haspil is being held accountable for the brutal murder of Fahim Saleh, a kind and compassionate individual who sought to give Haspil a second chance despite being betrayed,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated. “While this sentence cannot bring Mr. Saleh back, I hope it brings his family some closure as they continue to grieve this tragic loss.”
