Final answer:
Extortion was the common offense among Roman provincial governors who exploited their power to illicitly extract more than due taxes from people in the provinces. so, option d is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The common offense among Roman provincial governors was d) Extortion. Governors would utilize their power to extract more money than was due, often under the guise of tax collection, from the provinces under their control. This behavior was linked to the economic activities of the publicani, who were contracted to collect taxes for the government. These public contractors bid for the rights to collect taxes and sought to recover this investment with a profit by collecting more than necessary. This practice led to abuse and exploitation of provincial residents.
Roman provincial governors were known for their offenses, and embezzlement was a common crime among them. When asked about the source of their fortunes, they often replied "in the provinces." This suggests that they acquired their wealth through illegal means such as misappropriating funds or diverting resources for personal gain.