French Teen Fined in Singapore for Licking and Reinserting Vending Machine Straw

A French student in Singapore, a country sensitive to public cleanliness, has been fined after pleading guilty to licking a straw from a beverage vending machine and putting it back.

According to the Associated Press, 19-year-old Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, a business school student in Singapore, was sentenced on the 30th (local time) to a fine of 600 Singapore dollars (465 U.S. dollars) on charges of public nuisance.

Maximilien posted a video on social media on March 12 showing him licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine at a shopping mall and placing it back inside.

The video spread across social media and sparked controversy, prompting the company operating the juice vending machine to report the incident to the police after verifying it.

The company disinfected the vending machine and replaced all 500 straws inside the machine.

Prosecutors who indicted Maximilien noted that his actions carried the risk of undermining public trust in vending machine hygiene, but took into account factors such as the fact that he directly retrieved the straw he had messed with, resulting in no actual harm. Consequently, they sought a fine of up to 2,000 Singapore dollars (1,551 U.S. dollars), the maximum fine amount.

In Singapore, which strictly regulates behavior and cleanliness in public spaces, the offense of public nuisance is punishable by up to three months in prison or a fine.

Taking into account Maximilien's young age and his early admission of guilt as favorable factors, the court handed down a fine lower than what the prosecution had sought.

Maximilien's defense attorney stated, "He is sincerely remorseful for causing all this commotion," adding that Maximilien will pay the fine himself rather than having his parents pay it.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.