A 19-year-old [4] French student was fined S$600 [1] on Thursday after pleading guilty to a public nuisance charge in Singapore.
The incident highlights the strict enforcement of public order and hygiene laws in Singapore, where social-media stunts that disrupt public services or health can lead to immediate legal penalties.
Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien filmed himself licking a straw from an iJooz orange-juice vending machine before placing the straw back into the dispenser. The act was recorded as a stunt intended to gain attention on social media, prosecutors said.
Court records indicate the fine amounted to approximately $465 [2] or £348 [3]. The prosecution said the behavior constituted a public nuisance because it compromised the hygiene of a public-facing machine used by numerous consumers.
Maximilien pleaded guilty to the charges. The court focused on the nature of the act as a deliberate provocation for digital views, a trend that authorities in the city-state have increasingly monitored to prevent public disorder.
Singapore is known for its rigorous legal approach to minor offenses that affect the collective well-being of the population. The use of vending machines is widespread across the city, and the iJooz machines are common fixtures in high-traffic areas.
“The act was recorded as a stunt intended to gain attention on social media.”
This case underscores Singapore's low tolerance for 'clout-chasing' behavior that infringes on public health and safety. By treating a social-media prank as a criminal public nuisance, the judiciary signals that digital visibility does not excuse actions that jeopardize the sanitation of public infrastructure.
