A social media stunt involving a single straw has left a French student facing a hefty fine and possible consequences for his right to remain in Singapore.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, pleaded guilty to a public nuisance charge after he removed a straw from a freshly squeezed orange juice vending machine, licked it, and placed it back. He filmed the stunt for an Instagram story, and the video later went viral.

The student was fined 600 Singapore dollars (€400) and avoided a possible prison sentence, but it remains unclear whether authorities will revoke his student pass. He studies at Singapore's ESSEC Business School.

An employee of the company operating the machine saw the footage and contacted police. As a result, all 500 straws in the dispenser had to be replaced. The direct cost amounted to just 5 Singapore dollars.

Maximilien could have faced several months in prison, a fine, or both. His lawyer told the court that he was remorseful and now understood that an apparently harmless prank could have far-reaching consequences.

The wealthy city-state is known for its strict laws and rigorous enforcement. The import of chewing gum remains largely prohibited, and Singapore retains judicial caning for certain serious offenses, although that punishment was not applicable in this case.

Source: www.dw.com