SINGAPORE -- A Singapore court on Monday postponed the case of a French teenager accused of licking a straw from a vending machine and returning it to the dispenser. The proceedings were halted as prosecutors sought clarification on whether Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, could continue his studies in the city-state if convicted.
Maximilien was expected to plead guilty to charges of mischief and public nuisance. However, the court adjourned the case until July 30 to allow time for the prosecutor to determine if the teen's student pass would be revoked upon conviction. He had been attending a business school in Singapore on a student pass and was out on bail.
The incident allegedly occurred on March 12 at a shopping mall. A video of the prank, posted on social media, circulated widely before Maximilien was charged on April 24.
Mischief is punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. Public nuisance carries a lesser penalty of up to three months in prison, a fine, or both.
IJooz, the company that operates the juice vending machine, filed the initial police report. The company stated that it had sanitized the dispenser and replaced all 500 straws. IJooz also indicated plans to upgrade its machines with features such as individually packaged straws and compartments that unlock only after a transaction is completed.
Singapore, a densely populated city-state, enforces strict regulations on public behavior and cleanliness, with significant penalties for offenses like littering and vandalism. Restrictions on items such as chewing gum are also in place.