Surveillance video footage provides “overwhelming” supporting evidence that suspect Tyrese Haspil murdered and hacked his boss, tech CEO Fahim Saleh, earlier this week, prosecutors said early Saturday.
In an appearance just after midnight, Haspil, 21, an executive assistant to Saleh, received an arrest warrant without bond on charges of second-degree murder for the horrific crime on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Haspil allegedly stabbed and dismembered his boss in Saleh’s Houston Street $ 2.2 million apartment after he was caught embezzling more than $ 90,000 from him, even though kind-hearted Saleh had offered not to call the police. if Haspil paid the money in installments.
Surveillance video shows Haspil at a Home Depot buying the saw and cleaning supplies found at the crime scene Tuesday, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Ford said in the arraignment.
The clothing the killer was wearing was seen in management surveillance footage matching the garments found at 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 the Haspil remote settlement in the Manhattan Criminal Court.
“He is on video surveillance before and after the crime. He has been identified by at least two people in the video. “
A masked Haspil allegedly followed Saleh to his apartment elevator on Monday around 1:45 pm, testing it as soon as the elevator opened on Saleh’s seventh-floor property.
Saleh then fell to the ground, and Haspil allegedly fatally stabbed him multiple times in the torso and neck, Ford said.
Haspil left the apartment with Saleh’s body inside.
The next day, he allegedly visited Home Depot to buy the saw and other supplies that he is believed to have used to cut Saleh’s limbs.
Sources said The Post Haspil was allegedly in the process of cutting Saleh’s body and storing it in construction bags when Saleh’s cousin rang the doorbell for the apartment, prompting him to flee the stairs.
Prosecutors in the arraignment did not explain why they believe Haspil left the scene on Tuesday.
Ford confirmed that Haspil had stolen more than $ 90,000 from Saleh, who in 2018 founded Gokada, a Nigerian motorcycle ridesharing 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 pay the money, Ford said in court.
Prosecutors still determine Haspil’s motive, but believe the murder revolved around the robbery.
“We are awaiting records to determine whether or not [Haspil] he made some payment and whether this murder was motivated by a desire not to return that money or by fear that the victim had reported it to the police, “he said.
Judge Jonathan Svetkey ordered Haspil to be held without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 17.
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