A Shanghai taxi driver has been detained for 10 days and banned for driving cabs for five years after ripping off a foreign passenger over the National Day holidays.

Having tampered with his meter, the cabbie charged a Japanese customer 1,115 yuan (US$182) for a ride that should have cost 200 yuan.

The customer took a taxi from Terminal 1 of Pudong International Airport at about 10am last Wednesday.

When they reached Hongqiao International Airport, the driver, surnamed Huang, pointed at the meter and demanded 1,115 yuan for the 50-kilometer ride.

The passenger gave Huang 200 yuan, and said he had no more Chinese currency. But the cabbie took 15,000 Japanese yen from the passenger — worth 940 yuan.

Huang was detained by police the same day at Pudong International Airport. The cash was returned to the passenger within hours.

According to investigations, the meter was accelerated by a motor installed by Huang. He had his operating license revoked and was banned from driving taxis for five years.

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