• A 19-year-old French student was fined S$600 for licking a straw and returning it to a vending machine.
• The incident, which went viral, led to significant public backlash and legal consequences.
• iJooz, the company behind the vending machine, replaced all 500 straws after the incident.

A 19-year-old French student, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, was fined S$600 (approximately US$465) in Singapore for causing public nuisance by licking a straw from an iJooz vending machine and placing it back in the dispenser. This incident occurred on March 12, after which a video of the act was shared on social media, quickly going viral and prompting outrage among the public, as reported by Channel News Asia and BBC.

The court found Maximilien guilty, noting that both the prosecution and defense agreed a fine was appropriate due to his youth and the nature of the offense, despite public health considerations. The judge stated that probation or community service would typically be recommended given the defendant’s age, but logistical issues prevented those options, according to Le Monde and India Times.

Following the incident, iJooz, the vending machine operator, took swift actions by replacing all straws in the dispenser and introducing upgrades such as individually packaged straws. They stated that "the contaminated straw was not used by anyone" and emphasized the importance of hygienic standards, which is a priority in Singapore's strict regulatory environment regarding public sanitation, as indicated by Channel News Asia and BBC.

Maximilien’s legal team argued that he sincerely regretted his actions, stating that he only intended the act as a prank for his followers, and he was remorseful for the trouble caused. His defense counsel noted that he had been living in Singapore without family support, and ensuring he paid the fine would be a priority for his parents, as reported by Le Monde and India Times.