French teen charged in Singapore over a vending machine straw-licking video
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, an 18-year-old French teen, faces mischief and public nuisance charges in Singapore after posting a video of himself licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine and putting it back.
- The incident occurred on March 12 at a shopping mall, and the video quickly went viral; he was charged on April 24 but has not yet entered a plea.
- The teen has been granted court permission to travel to Manila for a school trip from May 2-25 and is due back in court on May 29.
- IJooz, the vending machine operator, filed a police report, sanitized the machine, replaced all 500 straws, and plans to upgrade machines with individually packaged straws and secure compartments.
- Singapore enforces strict regulations on public behavior and cleanliness, with significant penalties for offenses such as mischief, littering, and vandalism.
