Full Breakdown
French Teen Charged in Singapore Over Vending-Machine Straw Lick
4/28/2026, 8:27:38 AM
Core Incident: Vending-Machine Straw Lick Leads to Criminal Charges
On 12 March 2024, 18-year-old French student Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien filmed himself removing a straw from an iJooz orange-juice vending machine at Goldhill Centre, licking it, and returning it to the dispenser. He posted the clip to Instagram Stories with the caption “city is not safe.” Singapore police arrested him in early April and charged him with committing mischief and being a public nuisance.
Background & Context: Singapore’s Hygiene Laws and iJooz Smart Vending Machines
iJooz operates smart vending machines that dispense freshly squeezed orange juice throughout Singapore. Under Singapore’s Penal Code, “mischief” can attract up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine, while “public nuisance” carries a maximum of three months’ jail and a fine of up to S$2,000. Authorities argued the act posed an “unjustified loss or damage” to the machine’s hygiene system.
Key Figures & Groups
- Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien – French national, student at ESSEC Business School Singapore campus.
- iJooz – Operator of the smart vending machine involved.
- ESSEC Business School (Singapore) – Educational institution where Maximilien is enrolled.
- Prosecutors/Police – Charged Maximilien under the mischief and public nuisance statutes.
- Kalidass Law Corporation – Legal counsel representing Maximilien (Kanthan Raghavendra and Kalidass Murugaiyan).
Timeline
- 12 Mar 2024 – Video recorded and posted on Instagram.
- Early Apr 2024 – Police locate and arrest Maximilien.
- 24 Apr 2024 – Formal charges of mischief and public nuisance filed.
- 22 May 2024 – Court hearing scheduled for sentencing.
Data & Statistics
- 500 straws were replaced in the dispenser after the incident.
- Maximum penalty for mischief: 2 years imprisonment, fine or both.
- Maximum penalty for public nuisance: 3 months imprisonment, fine up to S$2,000.
- iJooz is installing upgraded machines with individually packaged straws nationwide.
Why It Matters: Public Health, Social Media Conduct, Legal Enforcement
The case highlights Singapore’s strict approach to public-health hygiene and the legal consequences of viral social-media stunts. It also underscores corporate responsibility for sanitation protocols and the broader debate on online behavior influencing real-world legal outcomes.
Official Statements & Responses
iJooz confirmed it had replaced all 500 straws, filed a police report, and initiated additional cleaning and inspections. ESSEC issued a statement that it “takes matters of conduct and community responsibility seriously, and internal investigations are underway.” Prosecutors indicated that Maximilien’s actions were likely to cause unjustified loss or damage to the machine. Kalidass Law Corporation noted that Maximilien’s parents had flown to Singapore and that a school representative would act as bailor.
Criticism & Opposition
Online commenters expressed disgust at the stunt, arguing it endangered public health and set a harmful precedent for social-media challenges. Some observers questioned whether the legal response was proportionate to the alleged hygiene breach.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on the charges and potential penalties, but minor variations exist in phrasing: some describe the offenses jointly, while others list them separately. No medical evidence of contamination or public illness has been reported.
Verbatim Quotes
- “city is not safe” — Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, Instagram caption
- “Authorities say he would have been aware that his actions would cause "unjustified loss or damage" to iJooz, which dispenses freshly squeezed orange juice from smart vending machines.” — Prosecutors
- “Court documents, via The Straits Times , stated that iJooz replaced all 500 straws in the machine's dispenser after the alleged incident.” — iJooz statement
- “ESSEC takes matters of conduct and community responsibility seriously, and internal investigations are underway,” — ESSEC spokesperson
- “His lawyers told CNA on Friday that he was studying in Singapore alone and that his parents would be flying over that evening.” — Maximilien’s lawyers
What’s Next
The case returns to court on 22 May 2024, where a judge will determine sentencing. iJooz plans to complete rollout of machines with individually packaged straws, aiming to prevent similar incidents.
