Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, a 19-year-old French exchange student in Singapore, was fined 600 SGD (over 12 million VND) on 30/7 after pleading guilty to public nuisance. The offense carries a maximum penalty of three months in prison.

Prosecutors had sought a fine of 2,000 SGD, three times the amount ultimately imposed by the court.

The incident occurred on 12/3 when Maximilien admitted to licking a straw at an automatic orange juice vending machine and then placing it back into the dispenser. He recorded the act and subsequently posted the video online, sparking a significant backlash that led to his arrest.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien arriving at court on 30/7. Photo: Telegraph

During sentencing, the judge considered Maximilien's age and the nature of the offense, opting for a fine rather than probation or community service. The court agreed with the defense's argument that this was a minor offense compared to other serious acts, noting no one used the contaminated straw and thus there was no evidence of harm. Maximilien was also credited for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity.

IJOOZ, the company operating the vending machines, was forced to replace all 500 straws in the machine Maximilien had tampered with.

Singapore is known for its strict enforcement of public hygiene regulations and its uncompromising stance on public 'attention-seeking' acts. Last year, the country sentenced an Australian man to nine days in prison and deported him for shoving singer Ariana Grande at the Asian premiere of the film Wicked: For Good.