A Singapore court fined a 19-year-old French youth SGD 600 (about 15,600 baht) for causing public nuisance after he filmed himself licking a straw from an iJooz automatic orange juice vending machine and then placing it back in the dispenser. He later posted the video on Instagram, which went viral, forcing the company to replace all the straws, although no one else used the contaminated straw.
On 30 Jul 2023 GMT+7, the Singapore court sentenced Didier Gaspar Owen Maximilien, a 19-year-old French national, to a SGD 600 fine (about 16,500 baht) after he pleaded guilty to causing public nuisance by filming himself licking a straw from an iJooz automatic fruit juice dispenser and returning it to the straw dispenser. The court also considered an additional charge of property damage in its judgment.
The incident occurred on 12 Mar 2023 GMT+7 after Maximilien attended boxing practice at the Goldhill Centre. He purchased juice from the iJooz machine, took a straw, licked about half of it, then returned it to the straw dispenser while filming a video. He then took his drink with the licked straw, used it himself, and left the area before editing and posting the video on his personal Instagram account.
A follower recorded the video from the screen and shared it with the media, causing it to go viral and raise public concern.
The prosecution stated that although no member of the public used the contaminated straw, iJooz had to replace all 500 straws in the machine, incurring a damage cost of SGD 5.
Both the prosecution and the defense agreed that a fine was an appropriate punishment. The prosecution took into account the defendant's age and the circumstances of the case, while the defense had considered requesting probation or community rehabilitation measures but faced practical difficulties as the defendant's father worked in France and could not provide supervision.
The defendant's lawyer emphasized that no one used the licked straw and that the video was originally intended only for the defendant's Instagram followers. However, someone recorded the screen and passed it to the media, turning it into a public issue.
The lawyer also said the client felt genuine remorse and realized that what was once seen as a joke had severe social consequences. The family has admonished him to take responsibility for his actions and is ready to pay the fine as ordered by the court.
Judge Kelly Ho stated that typically, young offenders like this might be better suited to probation or community penalties. However, due to caregiving limitations and practical issues, the court found a fine to be the appropriate resolution and imposed the amount proposed by the defense.
Under Singapore law, causing public nuisance carries a maximum penalty of up to three months' imprisonment, a fine of up to SGD 2,000, or both.
,CNA