Full Breakdown
French Teen Charged in Singapore for Licking and Returning Vending-Machine Straw
4/28/2026, 1:25:05 AM
Incident Overview
On 12 March, 18-year-old Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, a French student at ESSEC Business School’s Singapore campus, filmed himself removing a straw from an iJooz orange-juice vending machine, licking it, and returning it to the dispenser. He posted the clip to Instagram Stories with the caption “city is not safe.” The video was reposted on a community page and reported by local media.
Legal Charges and Potential Penalties
Singapore authorities charged Maximilien with mischief and public nuisance. The mischief charge alleges he “knew he was likely to cause wrongful loss or damage” to iJooz; the public-nuisance charge cites his intent to cause “annoyance to the public.” Court documents list a maximum jail term of more than two years and fines of several thousand dollars for the combined offences, while another source notes the public-nuisance component alone carries a jail term of up to three months and a fine.
Timeline
12 March 2024 – Licking incident at a shopping centre.
22 March 2024 – iJooz filed a police report and began sanitation.
22 April 2024 – Court documents released.
22 May 2024 – Next hearing.
Key Parties
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien – French teenager and ESSEC Singapore student.
iJooz – vending-machine operator that replaced all 500 straws.
ESSEC Singapore – conducting an internal investigation.
Singapore Police – received the report.
Maximilien’s legal counsel – arranging bail.
Official Statements & Responses
iJooz said it had replaced the 500 straws and started sanitation inspections. An ESSEC Singapore spokesperson said the school was aware of the incident and had launched an internal review. Maximilien’s lawyer said his parents had travelled to Singapore and a school representative would act as bailor.
Public Reaction and Criticism
Online users expressed disgust, calling the act a breach of public hygiene. The video’s spread sparked discussion about responsible social-media behaviour and health risks of contaminating shared equipment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the maximum imprisonment for public nuisance: one cites “more than two years” for the combined offences, another specifies “up to three months” for the public-nuisance component alone. No details on exact fines or the school’s internal review outcome have been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “city is not safe” — Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien
- “would or would probably cause annoyance to the public” — Court document
- “likely to cause wrongful loss or damage” — Court document
- “A spokesperson for the school had earlier told news outlets that it was aware of the incident and that internal investigations were under way.” — ESSEC Singapore spokesperson
- “His lawyers had earlier told CNA that Maximilien's parents had flown over to Singapore and that a representative from his school would be his bailor.” — Maximilien’s lawyer
Implications for Public Health and Legal Precedent
The case highlights Singapore’s strict enforcement of public-health standards and demonstrates how viral social-media actions can trigger criminal charges, potentially shaping future policies on public nuisance, sanitation and online conduct.
