French student Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien fined for licking a straw and returning it to a vending machine dispenser
A Singapore court fined 19-year-old French student Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien S$600 ($465) after he pleaded guilty to a public nuisance charge. The student was penalized for licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine and returning it to the dispenser, an act he filmed as a social media stunt for his Instagram followers. While the prank was intended for his own use, the action risked undermining public confidence in the hygiene of the common vending machines. The company operating the machine, iJooz, replaced all 500 straws in the dispenser following the incident. Defense counsel Kalidass Murugayan noted that Maximilien expressed deep remorse for the stunt, acknowledging that a playful act could have far-reaching consequences. The court opted for a fine rather than a prison sentence, though immigration authorities will now determine if Maximilien can retain his student pass in Singapore. The city-state is known for its strict regulations regarding public behavior and cleanliness.