A French student has been fined by a Singapore court after admitting to carrying out a social media prank involving a straw from a public juice vending machine, an incident that attracted widespread online attention and prompted concerns over public hygiene.
Nineteen-year-old Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien pleaded guilty to a public nuisance offense after recording himself licking a drinking straw taken from an orange juice vending machine before placing it back. The incident occurred at a shopping mall in March, and the video quickly circulated across social media platforms.
The court imposed a fine of 600 Singapore dollars after considering the circumstances of the case. A separate charge related to mischief was taken into account during sentencing, while no additional community-based punishment was ordered.
During the hearing, prosecutors argued that the prank had the potential to damage public confidence in the cleanliness and safety of vending machines frequently used by consumers. Although the offense carried the possibility of a jail sentence, prosecutors sought only a financial penalty, acknowledging that no member of the public used the contaminated straw and that there was no evidence of anyone being harmed.
The prosecution also noted that the student accepted responsibility for his actions at an early stage and cooperated with the legal process.
Defense lawyer Kalidass Murugayan told the court that the stunt was intended solely to create content for social media and was never meant to endanger the public. According to the defense, Maximilien later removed the same straw and used it for his own beverage, ensuring that no customer came into contact with it.
The lawyer further stated that the student deeply regretted the incident and apologized for the inconvenience it caused. He added that Maximilien, who is studying at a business school in Singapore without family support, would personally pay the fine.
Authorities also informed the court that Singapore’s immigration officials will separately determine whether the student’s pass should remain valid after reviewing the case.
The vending machine operator, IJuoz, responded by sanitizing the affected machine and replacing approximately 500 drinking straws as a precautionary measure. The company also announced plans to enhance its machines with additional hygiene safeguards, including individually wrapped straws and dispensing systems that release straws only after a purchase has been completed.
Singapore is internationally recognized for maintaining strict public cleanliness standards and enforcing regulations designed to protect public health and shared spaces. Offenses involving public hygiene or acts that create public nuisance can result in significant financial penalties or imprisonment, depending on the severity of the violation.
The case has renewed discussion on responsible social media content creation, with many observers highlighting the legal and public health consequences that can arise from online stunts carried out in public places.
