Full Breakdown
French Student Fined in Singapore After Viral Straw-Licking Stunt
7/31/2026, 9:24:28 PM
Core Event: Public-Nuisance Conviction Over Vending-Machine Prank
On 12 March 2026, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, a 19-year-old French national studying at Singapore’s ESSEC Business School, removed a drinking straw from an iJooz orange-juice vending machine in Goldhill Centre, licked it, and placed it back in the dispenser while filming the act for Instagram. The video, captioned “city is not safe,” spread widely on social media. Singapore police opened an investigation after the machine operator reported the footage. Maximilien pleaded guilty to a public-nuisance charge and, on 30 July 2026, was sentenced to a S$600 (? $465) fine. A second mischief charge was taken into consideration but did not result in additional punishment.
Background & Context: Singapore’s Hygiene-Focused Public-Order Regime
Singapore enforces strict regulations to preserve public cleanliness and confidence in shared facilities. Laws prohibit chewing gum, impose heavy fines for littering, and allow judicial caning for serious offences. Public-nuisance convictions can carry a fine of up to S$2,000 or up to three months’ imprisonment, reflecting the city-state’s low tolerance for actions that may jeopardise public health.
Data & Statistics
- Fine imposed: S$600 (? $465).
- Maximum penalty for the offence: S$2,000 fine or three months’ jail.
- Straws replaced: All 500 straws in the affected dispenser.
- Replacement cost: S$5 (? €3.30).
- iJooz machines: Widely deployed in shopping districts, transit stations and residential estates, dispensing freshly squeezed orange juice at about S$2 per cup.
Official Statements & Responses
- Deputy Public Prosecutor Maximilian Chew explained that the fine was appropriate given Maximilien’s youth and the circumstances.
- Judge Kelly Ho noted the defendant’s age and the “nature of the offence,” opting against probation or community service.
- Prosecutors argued that the stunt risked undermining public confidence in vending-machine hygiene and sought the maximum fine of S$2,000. They emphasized that no member of the public used the contaminated straw and that there was no evidence of harm.
- iJooz confirmed it filed a police report, sanitized the dispenser, replaced all 500 straws, and announced plans to introduce individually wrapped straws and locked compartments that release only after payment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Media outlets differed in how they expressed the fine’s monetary equivalent: some cited €400, others €406, while all agreed on the S$600 amount. No source provided a definitive decision on Maximilien’s student-pass status, leaving the immigration outcome unconfirmed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He is truly sorry for having caused all this trouble,” — Kalidass Murugayan, remorse defence lawyer
- “The contaminated straw was not used by anyone.” — Kalidass Murugaiyan, defense lawyer
- “He is fully sorry for having caused all this trouble,” — Kalidass Murugaiyan, defense lawyer
Why It Matters: Enforcement, Social Media and Immigration
The case illustrates Singapore’s willingness to apply public-order statutes to online-driven behaviour, reinforcing that viral content can trigger legal consequences when it threatens public hygiene. It also highlights the intersection of criminal sentencing with immigration oversight, as authorities indicated a separate review of Maximilien’s student pass.
What’s Next
Immigration officials will assess whether Maximilien may retain his student pass after the conviction. No decision has been announced as of the latest reports.
