A 19-year-old French student, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, is facing charges in Singapore after allegedly licking a straw from an iJooz orange juice vending machine and placing it back, then posting the video online.

The incident occurred on March 12. The viral clip sparked public outrage, leading to charges of public nuisance and mischief. According to court documents, Maximilien posted the video on Instagram, knowing it would cause annoyance and financial loss to iJooz.

The company had to replace all 500 straws in the dispenser. If convicted, Maximilien could face up to three months in jail for public nuisance and up to two years for mischief, along with fines.

On Friday, his lawyer informed the district court that the teen intends to plead guilty on July 13. Maximilien is currently out on bail.

The case has drawn attention to the strict laws in Singapore, where even seemingly minor acts can lead to severe penalties.

Source: www.dw.com