Singapore court fines French student for straw-licking stunt

Neena Mae Rayos, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
July 30, 2026

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram Story)

SINGAPORE – 19-year-old French student Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien was fined S$600 ($465) after pleading guilty to public nuisance charges in Singapore.

The charge stems from a viral video where Maximilien licked a straw and returned it to a vending machine in March.

While the offense carries a potential three-month prison sentence, prosecutors accepted a reduced penalty.

The court considered mitifactors, including Maximilien’s age, his early guilty plea, and the fact that no one else used the contaminated straw.

Defense counsel Kalidass Murugayan noted the student’s lack of local family support and confirmed his parents would pay the fine.

“He is truly sorry for having caused all this trouble,” Murugayan said.

Although the court avoided a community-based sentence, immigration authorities will review Maximilien’s student pass status, particularly as he plans to study in France later this year.

In response to the incident, the machine operator, IJooz, filed a police report, sanitized the dispenser, and replaced all 500 straws.

The company also plans to upgrade its machines with individually packaged straws and secure compartments.