In brief
A Singapore court fined a French student S$600 ($465) for licking a straw from an iJooz vending machine and putting the straw back. The 19‑year‑old, who had posted the video on Instagram, pleaded guilty to a public nuisance offence. The incident sparked backlash online and prompted the vending‑machine operator to replace all 500 straws. Public nuisance offenders in Singapore can face fines up to S$2,000 or up to three months in jail. Both prosecution and defence sought a monetary penalty, reflecting a relatively mild response to the viral prank.
A Singapore court fined a French student S$600 ($465) for licking a straw from an orange‑juice vending machine and putting the straw back, after the youngster posted the incident on Instagram.
The 19‑year‑old, named Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance. His video, captioned "city is not safe", quickly went viral, drawing criticism from viewers and triggering a local news piece.
iJooz, the company that owns the vending machine, replaced all 500 straws in the dispenser after the incident. Although public nuisance offenders can face fines up to S$2,000, three months in jail, or both, both the prosecution and the defence opted for a monetary penalty.
Maximilien expressed remorse, saying he had believed his stunt to be playful, but later realised its repercussions. He added that he was "truly sorry for having caused all this trouble" and that he understood the impact of his actions.
The incident occurred on March 12 at Goldhill Centre, a wealthy district in Singapore, after the student had finished a boxing workout. iJooz vending machines serve freshly squeezed orange juice for S$2 per cup and are common in shopping malls, train stations and residential areas.
