A 19-year-old French national has been fined S$600 (approximately US$458-465) for licking a straw at an iJooz vending machine in Singapore and returning it to the dispenser, an act he filmed and uploaded to Instagram.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, who is reported to be a student at ESSEC Business School in Singapore, attended a boxing session at Goldhill Centre on March 12 before approaching an iJooz vending machine. He bought a drink, licked about half of a straw from the dispenser, placed the contaminated straw back, filmed the process, collected his drink, and took the straw with him.
He later edited the footage and posted it on Instagram with the caption 'city is not safe' (also written as 'Şehir güvenli değil' in some reports). The video went viral after someone in his Instagram circle recorded it and forwarded it to a media outlet.
Maximilien pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance. A second charge of mischief was taken into consideration. The maximum penalty for public nuisance in Singapore is a fine of up to S$2,000, up to three months in jail, or both.
District Judge Kelly Ho imposed a fine of S$600. The court noted that given Maximilien's age and the nature of the offence, probation or community-based sentences were not suitable due to practical and logistical difficulties. One account states that the defence had considered probation but faced logistical difficulties because the father works in France.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Maximilian Chew said a fine would suffice because of Maximilien's youth and the circumstances. The prosecution said the offence was at the 'lower end' of seriousness and there was no evidence of harm as the contaminated straw was not used by anyone. The prosecution did not seek a compensation order.
Maximilien is reported to have pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity. A report mentions that the previous hearing was adjourned for the prosecution to check the status of his student pass on conviction. The prosecutor said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will make a decision on the student pass having regard to all relevant considerations including the outcome of proceedings.