An 18-year-old French student is facing criminal charges in Singapore after allegedly posting a viral video showing him licking a straw from a vending machine and placing it back for public use.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien was charged on April 24 with mischief and causing a public nuisance. Authorities say the incident took place on March 12 at a shopping mall, where the teen reportedly tampered with a straw from an orange juice vending machine.
The video quickly circulated online, drawing widespread attention and concern over hygiene and public safety.
According to reports, the court has granted Maximilien permission to travel to Manila from May 2 to May 25 for a mandatory school trip. He is scheduled to return to court on May 29 and has not yet entered a plea.
Under Singapore law, a mischief conviction can carry a sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. A public nuisance charge carries a lighter penalty of up to three months in jail or a fine.
The vending machine operator, IJooz, filed a police report following the incident. The company also sanitized the machine and replaced all 500 straws as a precaution. It announced plans to introduce additional safety measures, including individually wrapped straws and improved dispensing systems.
Singapore is known for its strict public cleanliness and behavior regulations, with strong penalties in place to maintain hygiene and order in public spaces.
The teen’s legal representatives have not commented on the case.
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