A Singapore court has delayed the case of a 19-year-old French student who faces criminal charges after posting a video of himself licking a straw from a juice vending machine and returning it to the dispenser.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien had been widely anticipated to enter a guilty plea Monday on charges of mischief and public nuisance. However, the proceedings came to a halt when prosecutors requested additional time to determine whether a conviction would result in the revocation of his student pass, which would impact his ability to continue his education in Singapore. The judge adjourned the matter to July 30.
According to authorities, Maximilien carried out the act at a shopping mall on March 12. After the video spread rapidly across social media, he was formally charged on April 24. He has remained enrolled at a Singapore business school while released on bail.
If convicted of mischief, he could face up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. The public nuisance charge carries a lighter penalty — up to three months behind bars, a fine, or both.
IJooz, the company that operates the juice vending machine involved in the incident, filed a police report following the stunt. The company responded by sanitizing the machine and replacing all 500 straws inside it. IJooz has also announced plans to upgrade its machines with safety improvements, including individually wrapped straws and compartments that only open once a purchase is completed.
Singapore is a small and densely populated city-state known for its strict rules around public conduct and cleanliness. The country enforces regulations such as limits on chewing gum and stiff penalties for littering and vandalism.
