SINGAPORE: An 18-year-old French student has been charged with mischief and public nuisance in Singapore after allegedly filming himself licking a straw and placing it back in a juice vending machine, according to court documents.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien is accused of recording the act and uploading the video on Instagram, knowing it could cause public annoyance.
Authorities said the incident took place on March 12, and the video quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism and concern.
The public nuisance charge carries a penalty of up to three months in jail and a fine, while the mischief charge — linked to damages caused to iJooz — could result in up to two years’ imprisonment.
The company reportedly had to replace all 500 straws in the affected machine following the incident.
The charges were filed in a district court last week, with the next hearing scheduled for May 22.
