A 25-year-old American man, Tyrese Devon Haspil, the personal assistant turned convicted killer has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the brutal murder of his former boss, Fahim Saleh, the founder of Nigerian ride-hailing company Gokada.

The relationship between Saleh and Haspil started in 2018 when Saleh hired the young coding prodigy as his personal assistant. Haspil was entrusted with managing the finances of Adventure Capital. However, it soon became apparent that Haspil was abusing this trust. Between December 2018 and May 2019, Haspil allegedly embezzled over USD 98 K, a figure later revealed to be just a fraction of the total stolen amount.

Emails exchanged between Saleh and Haspil painted a picture of growing suspicion. Saleh confronted Haspil in January 2020 about the missing funds. Haspil admitted to the theft and proposed a repayment plan, which Saleh, in a gesture of leniency, agreed to. Saleh decided against involving the police, trusting Haspil to make amends.

Despite this agreement, Haspil’s criminal activities did not cease. He created a fake PayPal account under the pseudonym “Nethertek Switzerland,” continuing to siphon money from Saleh even as he appeared to be repaying him. This ongoing embezzlement highlighted the extent of Haspil’s betrayal.

Fearing that his broader scheme, which totalled around USD 400 K, would be uncovered, Haspil allegedly plotted to murder Saleh to prevent him from testifying. Prosecutors described the killing as a “meticulously researched and executed” act.

On the morning of July 13, 2020, Haspil entered Saleh’s apartment building in a black suit and mask. He followed Saleh into the elevator, which opened directly into his apartment, incapacitated him with a Taser, and then fatally stabbed him. The following day, Haspil returned to dismember the body, but was interrupted when he stepped out to get batteries for an electric saw he was using for the egregious act, during which Saleh’s cousin arrived at the apartment and discovered the horrific scene.