French teen fined in Singapore for licking vending machine straw

A Singapore court has imposed a S$600 fine on a 19-year-old French student, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, for a public nuisance offense. Maximilien admitted to licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine before placing it back into the dispenser.

The incident occurred on March 12th at a Goldhill Centre iJooz vending machine. Maximilien, who is studying in Singapore, recorded his actions and shared the video on Instagram with the caption “city is not safe.” The video quickly gained traction online, eliciting disgust from many viewers and drawing the attention of local media.

The company operating the vending machines, iJooz, reported that all 500 straws in that particular dispenser were replaced as a precautionary measure following the incident. iJooz machines, which sell freshly squeezed orange juice for S$2 a cup, are a common sight across Singapore.

Maximilien’s lawyer stated that the student is “truly sorry for having caused all this trouble” and now understands the serious consequences of his actions, which he initially perceived as a “playful” act.

In Singapore, public nuisance offenses can carry penalties of up to S$2,000, three months imprisonment, or both. In this case, both the prosecution and the defense recommended a fine, which the court accepted.

Source: Nile Post