Gokada founder killer gets 40 years behind bars

Gokada founder Fahim Saleh was brutally murdered by his trusted associate Tyrese Haspil in a worse case of betrayal in 2020, four years later Haspil is facing 40 years to life sentence in prison.
Haspil had been found guilty in June 2024 on charges including first-degree murder, grand larceny, and burglary. He was a trusted aid of the Bangladesh born Saleh who invested in several start-ups in Africa.
Haspil hatched a plot to kill the 33-years-old Saleh who it was discovered that Haspil had been stealing money up to the tune of $400,000 from his boss.
According to Court documents 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 attempt 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.
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.
“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,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who was the chief prosecutor in the case.