More details have emerged regarding the green-eyed former executive assistant of Bangladeshi-American entrepreneur Fahim Saleh after he allegedly lived out a fantasy life while stealing a stash of cash from his boss, who he later dismembered in a gruesome killing.
Killer assistant Tyrese Haspil, 22, entered a not guilty plea before a New York court judge via Skype last year after a grand jury indicted him on upgraded charges of first- and second-degree murder, second-degree grand larceny, second-degree burglary, concealment of a human corpse, as well as tampering with physical evidence.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Haspil allegedly decapitated and dismembered the 33-year-old venture capitalist in the living room of his East Houston Street condo on Manhattan's Lower East Side on July 14, 2020, CNN reported.
Haspil was arrested and charged for the murder on July 17, 2020.
The accused was a 16-year-old high school student when he applied to be Fahim Saleh's assistant. At the time, Saleh, a self-made millionaire, had already established himself as a pioneer of tech startups in the developing world.
Once Haspil began working with Saleh, he became obsessed with the bigwig's jet-setting lifestyle. Haspil reportedly stole funds from his boss amounting to nearly $100,000 in total, according to prosecutors, and even signed emails to associates with the title "chief of staff."
According to Business Insider, Haspil would often host friends at Saleh's condo, posing as its owner, as Saleh spent more time working abroad on his startups. The assistant would also register himself as the owner of Saleh's dog, Laila, as he was tasked to bring her to weekly grooming appointments in the West Village.
At the time of Saleh's death, a law enforcement official noted that the assistant owed his boss tens of thousands of dollars and was on a repayment plan.
While police kept a tight lip following the horrendous murder, Gokada, one of the firms Saleh co-founded, had tweeted to confirm his passing. It followed startup Pathao's post on Instagram, which stated that they mourn the loss of one of its pioneer members.
"Fahim believed in the potential for technology to transform lives in Bangladesh and beyond. He saw the promise in us when all we had was a common purpose and a shared vision," the post read. "He was, and will forever remain, an incredible inspiration for Pathao and our entire ecosystem."
Saleh was fond of taking chances on young and unproven talent, focusing on emerging markets in Nigeria and Colombia, according to his colleagues, the Wall Street Journal noted. He had also been known for his spontaneity and generosity.
During one summer day of 2014, Saleh went viral on social media after handing nearby vendors and passersby bottles of water and soda while he was out looking for office space in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Saleh was approached by a thirsty street child that deeply moved him, prompting him to commit another impulsive act of generosity.
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