Law & Justice
French teen fined in Singapore straw-licking case
A 19-year-old French teenager was fined Sg$600, about $465, in Singapore on Thursday after pleading guilty to a public nuisance charge over a straw-licking stunt.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien admitted posting a social media video showing himself putting a straw he had licked back into the dispenser of an orange juice vending machine.
The video went viral on Instagram shortly after the March 12 incident and triggered a backlash that led to his arrest.
Judge Kelly Ho said probation or a community-based sentence would not be imposed because of Maximilien's age and the nature of the offence.
Prosecutors agreed to the defence request for a fine. They said the offence was at the lower end of seriousness and that, although hygiene was compromised, no member of the public used the straw and there was no evidence of harm. They also said Maximilien pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity.
Defence counsel Kalidass Murugaiyan argued for a fine rather than probation. He said the family had difficulty arranging a guardian in Singapore and that a community-based sentence was not practical because Maximilien had to return to France in September to continue his studies.
Murugaiyan told the court Maximilien was sorry and had been counselled by his family. Maximilien's parents attended the hearing and declined to speak to reporters after leaving court.
Update
Defence counsel Kalidass Murugaiyan argued for a fine rather than probation.
The defence said Maximilien's family had trouble getting a guardian in Singapore and that a community-based sentence was not practical because he had to return to France in September to continue his studies.
Murugaiyan told the judge Maximilien was sorry and had been counselled by his family.
Maximilien's parents were in court and declined to speak to reporters.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 03:30:11 UTC.
Update
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien was fined Sg$600, equivalent to about $465.
Judge Kelly Ho said probation or a community-based sentence would not be imposed given Maximilien's age and the nature of the offence.
Prosecutors said the offence was at the lower end of seriousness and that there was no evidence of harm because no member of the public used the straw.
Prosecutors said Maximilien pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 02:49:48 UTC.
Update
The teenager was identified as Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19.
He pleaded guilty to a public nuisance charge in Singapore on Thursday.
He admitted posting a social media video showing himself putting a licked straw back into a dispenser on an orange juice vending machine.
Source note: AFP news report published on 30 July 2026 at 01:57:23 UTC.
Source
AFP news report published on .