Inp.polri.go.id - Denpasar. The Denpasar Sub-regional Police have uncovered the motive behind the extortion of two American tourists by a taxi driver in Bali that went viral Yanuarius Toebkae, a 20-year-old taxi driver, resorted to threats and extortion due to a misunderstanding regarding the taxi fare. The incident, caught on video and circulated on social media, occurred on 2 January 2024, in Seminyak area, antaranews.com reported. According to Senior Superintendent Wisnu Prabowo, the Chief of the Denpasar Police, the passengers, identified as LN and LJ, communicated the fare as 50 when they booked the taxi, referring to Rp 50,000. However, the driver misunderstood it as 50 in US dollars. As a result, the driver resorted to extortion inside the taxi, brandishing a folding fan as if it were a knife and gesturing a threat to slit the victims' throats, he said. Despite initial resistance, the victims eventually handed over $100 to the driver to resolve the situation. After receiving the money, the victims exited the car. Feeling aggrieved, they reported the incident to the local police after the incident went viral. Following the event, Yanuarius fled to Surabaya, East Java, and attempted to escape to Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Denpasar Police, in coordination with the Juanda Airport, arrested him around 6 pm on 4 January 2024. Yanuarius is currently in police custody, facing charges under Article 368 of the Criminal Code, which entails extortion with violence, carrying a maximum sentence of nine years in prison. Authorities assure that all necessary measures are being taken to address this incident appropriately. (mg/inp/pr/nm)