Shafi Sammi Mahdi:

Court hears stolen money led to the heinous killing

According to NYPD, the executive assistant of a tech entrepreneur, Fahim Saleh, who was found decapitated in his luxury New York apartment this week, has been charged with his murder.

Tyrese Haspil, 21, is accused of killing 33-year-old Saleh, who was a co-founder of ride-sharing speculation Pathao in Bangladesh and Nepal. He was also the CEO of Nigerian motorcycle ride-hailing and delivery app Gokada.

Haspil handled Saleh's finances and personal matters, according to the police.

At an arraignment held just after midnight on Friday, Haspil was ordered held without bail on charges of second-degree murder for the gruesome crime. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 17.

Surveillance video showed 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 Haspil to and from the crime scene, Ford added.

"The evidence, in this case, is overwhelming," Ford said during Haspil's remote arraignment 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."

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. When the tech entrepreneur discovered the embezzlement of his funds, instead of going to the police, Haspil and Saleh agreed on a payment plan to repay the money, Ford said in the court.

Prosecutors are still determining Haspil's motive, but they believe the killing revolved around the theft, reports New York Post.

"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," Ford said.

Police recovered text messages in which Saleh accused his former employee of stealing the money, according to an ABC News report.

Media reports also said that Investigators were able to track the suspect through a credit card, believed to be paid for by Saleh.

It was used to purchase the electric saw, cleaning supplies from Home Depot on 23rd Street in Manhattan, and car services to and from the location.

On Monday, Haspil used a Taser to immobilize Saleh as he exited the elevator that opens directly into his apartment. He then stabbed him multiple times in the neck and torso.

The following day he returned to the scene and severed Saleh's head, arms, and legs, using the electric saw found plugged into an outlet in the living room of the seventh-floor apartment. Nearby were bags containing the body parts.

It is believed that a surprise visit by one of Saleh's cousin, who discovered the body on Tuesday and called 911, may have interrupted Haspil's attempt to dispose of the evidence and he fled out of a service entrance to the full floor unit.

Earlier in the week, a law enforcement official stated that the killing looked like a professional "hit". It is now thought that the killer may have tried to make it appear that way.

Source: The Daily Star