Singapore authorities charge French student with mischief and public nuisance over viral vending machine incident
The 18-year-old, currently studying in Singapore, was granted leave to travel for a graduation trip despite pending court appearances following a police report lodged by vending machine operator IJooz.
An eighteen-year-old French national, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, has been charged with mischief and public nuisance in Singapore following a viral video depicting him licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine. The incident, which occurred on 12 March at a shopping mall, prompted the vending machine operator, IJooz, to file a police report after the footage was posted online.
The charges carry significant statutory penalties under Singapore law, with mischief punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine, and public nuisance by up to three months in prison or a fine. Although the maximum penalties are severe, the specific outcome for this case remains undetermined as the teenager has not yet entered a plea.
IJooz has taken immediate remedial action regarding the equipment involved in the incident. The company sanitised the specific dispenser and replaced all 500 straws within the machine. Furthermore, the operator has indicated plans to upgrade its network of machines to include individually packaged straws and compartments that remain locked until a transaction is completed.
The legal proceedings have been complicated by the defendant's current location. Maximilien, who is studying at a French business school in Singapore, was granted court permission to travel to Manila for a mandatory school graduation trip running from 2 to 25 May. His legal representation declined to comment on the case when contacted by media outlets.
Consequently, the next scheduled court appearance for the teenager is set for 29 May, contingent upon his return from the Philippines. This timeline highlights the logistical challenges inherent in prosecuting individuals who are temporarily absent from the jurisdiction while legal processes are underway.
The case underscores the strict regulatory environment regarding public behaviour and cleanliness in Singapore, a small, densely populated city-state known for rigorous enforcement of standards such as limits on chewing gum and severe penalties for littering. The prosecution relies on the police report filed by IJooz, while the defence strategy remains undisclosed pending the upcoming hearing.
