French Teen Fined in Singapore Over Viral Straw-Licking Stunt
SINGAPORE-A French teenager was fined S$600 ($465) by a Singapore court on Thursday after pleading guilty to a public nuisance charge stemming from a viral social media video in which he licked a drinking straw before placing it back into a dispenser at an orange juice vending machine.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, admitted to the offense, which occurred on March 12 and attracted widespread criticism after footage of the incident circulated on Instagram. The video prompted public backlash and ultimately led to his arrest in the city-state, where authorities enforce strict public hygiene and order regulations.
State Courts Judge Kelly Ho imposed the fine after considering the defendant’s age and the nature of the offense, ruling that alternatives such as probation or a community-based sentence were not appropriate in the circumstances.
Prosecutors supported the defense’s request for a financial penalty, describing the offense as being at the lower end of the scale of seriousness. They said that although the act compromised hygiene, investigators found no evidence that any member of the public had used the contaminated straw or suffered harm.
The prosecution also noted that Maximilien pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, a factor taken into account during sentencing.
Appearing in court wearing a dark suit and white shirt, Maximilien remained composed as the sentence was delivered. His parents attended the hearing but declined to comment to reporters after leaving the courthouse.
Defense lawyer Kalidass Murugaiyan argued that a fine was the most suitable punishment, citing practical difficulties in imposing probation or another community-based sentence.
Murugaiyan told the court that Maximilien’s family had been unable to arrange a suitable guardian in Singapore, making probation impractical. He added that the teenager was scheduled to return to France in September to resume his studies.
The lawyer said his client deeply regretted the incident and had been counselled by his family following the widespread public reaction to the video.
Singapore has long maintained a strict approach toward conduct deemed disruptive to public order or hygiene. Authorities have consistently enforced laws against behavior considered to undermine public standards, including high-profile cases involving foreign nationals.
Last year, Singapore deported an Australian man after he completed a nine-day jail sentence for rushing actor and singer Ariana Grande during the Asian premiere of the film “Wicked: For Good.”
