The state says it was a female passenger who initiated the July 28 robbery of a taxicab driver in Kalihi.

Two men, Samson Isaako and Levi Fau Jr., are charged with the robbery, according to a state indictment returned Wednesday. Isaako, 24, is also charged with criminal property damage. He remains in custody unable to post $75,000 bail.

Deputy Prosecutor Chastity Imamura told state Circuit Judge Colette Garibaldi that the female passenger shifted the taxicab’s transmission into park while the vehicle, a minivan, was stopped at a red light. The passenger then pinned the driver to his seat and demanded money.

She said Isaako approached from another vehicle, reached into the minivan, put a knife to the driver’s neck and also demanded money. Meanwhile, Fau approached from the same vehicle and punched the driver in the head.

Isaako and Fau both took money from the driver, and Isaako also took the driver’s cellphone, Imamura said.

When the female passenger exited the van, the driver accelerated his vehicle to escape. Imamura said Isaako went after the taxicab driver in his own vehicle and crashed into the van.

The driver ran to a nearby gate at Fort Shafter and alerted security of what happened. Honolulu police were able to locate Isaako and arrested him. Imamura said police found the driver’s cellphone nearby. She said Isaako named Fau as the other robber and that the driver identified both men as his assailants.

Police have yet to arrest Fau or the female passenger.