A French student in Singapore was fined 600 Singapore dollars after pleading guilty to a public nuisance charge for filming himself licking a drinking straw and returning it to an orange juice vending machine. Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, admitted to the act, which took place at a shopping mall in March and was recorded for an Instagram story that later spread rapidly online.
French Student Fined in Singapore Over Social Media Straw-Licking Prank
According to dw.com, the public nuisance charge carries a maximum penalty of up to three months in prison, a fine, or both. During sentencing at the State Courts, Judge Kelly Ho declined to impose alternatives such as probation or a community-based sentence, citing the student’s age and the nature of the offense. A separate mischief charge was also taken into consideration during sentencing, and the defendant avoided a prison sentence.
Court Arguments and Legal Proceedings
Prosecutors had sought the maximum available fine of 2,000 Singapore dollars, arguing that the staged stunt was intended for social media attention and risked undermining public confidence in the hygiene of a commonly used vending machine. However, prosecutors also acknowledged that the offense sat at the lower end of seriousness, noting that Maximilien retrieved the straw himself, no member of the public used it, there was no evidence of direct harm, and he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Defense counsel Kalidass Murugayan told the court that his client has been living in Singapore without family support and expressed deep remorse. The defense lawyer stated that the video was meant as a social media stunt and that Maximilien later removed the contaminated straw from the machine to use for his own drink, meaning it was never intended for anyone else. He is truly sorry for having caused all this trouble,
the lawyer said, adding that the student’s parents would ensure he paid the fine himself.
Maximilien studies at ibtimes.sg in Singapore. Prosecutors noted he would also be in France from September to December as part of his studies, and stated that immigration authorities will decide whether he can keep his student pass after considering all relevant factors.
Vending Machine Operator Response and Public Safety Context
The incident came to light after an employee of iJooz, the company operating the juice vending machine, saw the footage online and lodged a police report. Following the stunt, iJooz sanitized the affected dispenser and replaced all 500 straws inside the machine. The direct cost of replacing the straws amounted to 5 Singapore dollars.
The company stated it plans to upgrade its machines to include preventive measures such as individually packaged straws and dispenser compartments that unlock only after a transaction is completed.
The case drew widespread attention in cnn.com, a densely populated city-state known for its strict laws and rigorous enforcement regarding public order, cleanliness, and hygiene.
