"Licking a Straw Changed His Life: The Consequence for a 19-Year-Old's Vending Machine Prank"

Fined for Disrupting Public Order

A French student who posted a video online of himself licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine in Singapore and putting it back has been fined.

Didier Gaspar Owen Maximilian is seen in March taking out a straw from an orange juice vending machine installed at a shopping mall, licking it, and then putting it back. SNS

According to the Associated Press on July 30 (local time), Didier Gaspar Owen Maximilian, a 19-year-old French national enrolled at a business school in Singapore, was fined 600 Singapore dollars (about 660,000 won) on charges of public disorder.

Last March, Maximilian filmed himself taking a straw from an orange juice vending machine in a shopping mall, licking it, and then putting it back. He released the footage to his followers on social media, and as the video quickly spread, he was prosecuted in April.

Didier Gaspar Owen Maximilian is seen in March removing a straw from an orange juice vending machine installed at a shopping mall, licking it, and then putting it back. SNS

The court also took property damage into consideration when determining sentencing. However, citing several mitigating circumstances, the court imposed only a fine and did not order community service or other community-based measures.

Previously, prosecutors argued that the act was staged for the purpose of uploading it to social media, and expressed concerns that it could undermine public trust in the hygiene of vending machines used by the general public. They requested the court impose the maximum penalty of 2,000 Singapore dollars (about 2.2 million won).

However, the prosecution explained that Maximilian personally collected the straw in question so it was not used by other citizens, and that there was no evidence any actual harm occurred. Prosecutors also considered the fact that the defendant is young and admitted to the charges early in the investigation.

Didier Gaspar Owen Maximilian is leaving the National Court Building in Singapore on the 30th (local time). Photo by AP Yonhap News

Maximilian's attorney stated that Maximilian has been living in Singapore without his family and is deeply remorseful for his actions. The lawyer also claimed that the video was meant as a joke for Maximilian's social media followers, and since Maximilian removed the contaminated straw to use it for his own drink, he had no intention of letting others use it.

Maximilian is currently enrolled at a business school in Singapore and is reportedly scheduled to stay in France between September and December for academic purposes.

The prosecution stated that, based on this conviction, Singapore’s immigration authorities will decide whether Maximilian will be able to retain his student visa.

After the incident, the vending machine operator, iJooz, reported the matter to the police, disinfected the vending machine, and replaced all 500 straws in the machine. The company plans to improve the vending machines by individually packaging each straw and ensuring the straw compartment only opens after a drink has been purchased.

Singapore is a densely populated city-state that strictly regulates public behavior and cleanliness. It also imposes harsh penalties for acts such as littering and vandalism.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.