Evidence ‘overwhelming’ against alleged killer of Pathao Cofounder Fahim Saleh
Haspil allegedly stabbed and dismembered Saleh after getting caught embezzling more than $90,000 from him
Surveillance video footage provides "overwhelming" supporting evidence that the suspect Tyrese Haspil murdered Pathao Cofounder Fahim Saleh, earlier this week, prosecutors said early Saturday.
At an arraignment held just after midnight, Haspil, 21, Saleh's executive assistant, was ordered held without bail on charges of second-degree murder for the gruesome crime on Manhattan's Lower East Side, reported New York Post.
Haspil allegedly stabbed and dismembered Saleh after getting caught embezzling more than $90,000 from him even though the kind-hearted Saleh had offered to not call the police if Haspil paid the money back in installments.
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Surveillance video shows Haspil at a Home Depot purchasing the saw and cleaning supplies found Tuesday at the crime scene, Manhattan assistant district attorney Linda Ford said at the arraignment.
Clothing the killer was seen wearing on surveillance footage from the address matched garments found in Haspil's Brooklyn home, and investigators were also able to digitally track Hasil to and from the crime scene, Ford added.
"The evidence, in this case, is overwhelming," Ford said during Haspil's remote arrangement in Manhattan Criminal Court.
"He is on video surveillance before and after the crime. He has been identified by at least two individuals from the videotape."
Who is Tyrese Haspil?
Tyrese Devon Haspil, the executive PA to Fahim Saleh, is from Long Island, New York state.
He started working with Fahim for last five years since he was 16. Haspil's duties included handling Saleh's finances & personal business. Haspil is a self-defining "entrepreneur" who graduated from Long Island High School, competes in web design business competitions and runs on the track.
Haspil "worked as Saleh's chief of staff at his venture capital firm Adventure Capital" and "acted as his personal assistant."
A masked Haspil allegedly followed Saleh into his apartment elevator Monday around 1:45 p.m., Tasing him as soon as the elevator opened onto Saleh's seventh-floor property.
Saleh then fell to the floor, and Haspil allegedly fatally stabbed him multiple times in the torso and neck, Ford said.
Haspil then left the apartment with Saleh's body inside.
The next day, he allegedly visited Home Depot to buy the saw and other supplies he is believed to have used to cut off Saleh's limbs.
Sources told The Post Haspil was allegedly in the process of chopping up Saleh's body and stashing it in construction bags when Saleh's cousin rang the apartment buzzer, prompting him to flee down the stairs.
Prosecutors at the arraignment did not elaborate on why they believe Haspil left the scene on Tuesday.
Ford confirmed Haspil had stolen more than $90,000 from Saleh, who in 2018 founded Gokada, a Nigerian motorcycle ride-sharing company, and an investment firm, Adventure Capital.
When the CEO discovered the embezzlement of his funds, instead of going to the police, he and Saleh agreed on a payment plan to repay the money, Ford said in court.
Prosecutors are still determining Haspil's motive, but they believe the killing revolved around the theft.
"We are awaiting records to determine whether or not [Haspil] made any payments and whether this murder was motivated by a desire to not pay that money back or a fear that the victim would've reported him to the police," she said.
Judge Jonathan Svetkey ordered Haspil to be held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 17.
