French Student Fined for Straw Prank in Singapore

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, a French student aged 19, was fined 600 Singapore dollars after licking a drinking straw and returning it to a vending machine dispenser in March. The act was filmed for an Instagram story and went viral; this led a company employee to notify the police.

Maximilien pleaded guilty to disturbing public order or public nuisance. While he avoided prison, his lawyer stated that he is remorseful. It remains unclear if authorities will revoke his student pass. Court documents show that all 500 straws in the machine were replaced at a direct cost of approximately 5 Singapore dollars, which is about 3.30 euros.

The reports provide different contextual backgrounds for the sentencing. Outlets with center and center left leans mention Singapore's strict laws and cleanliness standards, specifically citing the ban on chewing gum. Another report with a center lean highlights a zero tolerance policy toward public behavior by referencing the deportation of an Australian man who grabbed singer Ariana Grande.

Additionally, one center outlet provides further judicial details. It notes that Judge Kelly Ho declined to apply community service or probation due to the defendant's age and the nature of the crime. The prosecution in that report stated that because no one used the licked straw, there was no evidence of actual harm.