French Student Fined in Singapore for Vending Machine Straw Incident

A French student studying in Singapore has been fined S$600 after admitting to licking a straw from a fruit juice vending machine and then placing it back into the dispenser.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, pleaded guilty to the charge of committing a public nuisance. The incident, which occurred on March 12 after a boxing training session at the Goldhill Centre, was filmed by the student himself. He posted the video on his Instagram account with the caption "The city is not safe."

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The city is not safe.

After the video resurfaced on a local community page and gained media attention, numerous social media users expressed outrage. The operator of the vending machines, iJooz, confirmed that all 500 straws in the affected machine were replaced as a precautionary measure. iJooz vending machines, which sell freshly squeezed orange juice, are commonly found in Singapore's shopping districts, train stations, and residential areas.

Both the prosecution and the defense requested a fine for Maximilien. His lawyer stated that the student deeply regretted his actions, realizing the severe consequences of behavior he thought was amusing at the time. In Singapore, the offense of committing a public nuisance can result in a fine of up to S$2,000, a jail term of up to three months, or both.

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He realized the behavior he thought was amusing at the time had very serious consequences.