Police in Ho Chi Minh City last week (Oct. 19) filed criminal charges against a Hoang Long taxi driver who pleaded guilty to overcharging a Japanese visitor and stealing all her luggage in late March.

He faces charges of “robbery”, the police said.

Nguyen Thanh Hai, 38, committed the offence after he transported Ono Ayumi, a Japanese visitor, from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to a hotel on De Tham Street, Pham Ngu Lao backpacker’s area in District 1 at around midnight on March 30, according to police reports.

Although the meter displayed VND256,000 (US$12.29), when 26-year-old Ono Ayumi gave him a VND500,000 ($24) banknote, he asked for more.

Since the driver’s appearance looked threatening and there were few people around, Ono gave him two more VND500,000 banknotes.

However, the driver demanded more. Afterwards, Ono had to pull out a JPY1,000 ($12.47) banknote and demanded him to give back the three VND500,000 bills. Hai grabbed the Japanese banknote but returned nothing.

However, he still kept asking for more money.

Since Ono had no cash left, Hai drove her to an ATM station nearby for withdrawals. But as soon as she left the taxi, the driver drove away along with all her luggage containing one jacket, one camera, and two bags.

The Japanese tourist then reported the matter to local police and airport’s security center.

It was not until the center, after checking the cameras installed outside the terminal, confirmed that Ono had brought two bags with her when she got into the taxi that Hai pleaded guilty.

Le Huy Cuong, deputy general director of Saigon Hoang Long, which is located on An Duong Vuong Street, District 5, told Tuoi Tre that Hai had returned Ayumi the overcharged amount and part of the luggage.

The company has negotiated with the passenger on a compensation of VND3 million ($144) for the remaining luggage containing clothing and cosmetics which Hai said he “could not recover”, Cuong added.