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A 19-year-old French college student was fined 600 Singapore dollars—approximately Rp 7,8 juta—by a Singapore court after filming himself licking a straw inside an iJooz orange juice vending machine and returning it to the dispenser, according to local media reports and court documents. Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien pleaded guilty to a public nuisance charge following the incident at Goldhill Centre.
The Incident at Goldhill Centre and Social Media Fallout
The event took place on March 12 after Maximilien finished boxing training in an upscale residential neighborhood in Singapore. According to court records, the teenager pulled a straw from an automated iJooz orange juice dispenser, licked it, and placed it back into the storage container.
Maximilien then recorded the act and uploaded the video to Instagram using the caption “city is not safe.” The footage quickly spread after an online community account reshared it, drawing sharp public backlash and disgust from internet users. iJooz vending machines, which dispense fresh orange juice for 2 dolar Singapura (sekitar Rp 26.000) per cup, are a common sight across the city-state’s shopping malls, transit stations, and residential estates.
Company Response and Legal Penalties in Singapore
In response to the contamination, the operating company, iJooz, discarded and replaced all 500 straws stored inside the machine’s dispenser. Under Singapore’s legal framework, individuals convicted of public nuisance can face a fine of up to 2.000 dolar Singapura (sekitar Rp26 juta), a prison sentence of up to three months, or both.
During court proceedings, both prosecutors and defense counsel pressed for a monetary fine rather than incarceration. Kalidass Murugaiyan, the defense attorney representing Maximilien, told the BBC on Thursday, July 30, 2026, that his client deeply regretted the incident. “Maximilien benar-benar menyesali semua masalah yang ditimbulkannya dan kini menyadari bahwa apa yang saat itu ia anggap hanya sebagai tindakan iseng ternyata membawa konsekuensi yang sangat besar,” Murugaiyan stated. The defense also noted that the video was initially intended only for the “close friends” feature on Instagram before gaining wider visibility.
Did you know?
Singapore’s strict public health and order laws apply to automated retail setups as well as traditional brick-and-mortar establishments, with swift legal repercussions for tampering with shared public amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the exact charge against Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien?
Maximilien was charged with and pleaded guilty to public nuisance.
How much was the fine issued by the court?
The court ordered Maximilien to pay a fine of 600 Singapore dollars, which is approximately Rp 7,8 juta.
What happened to the vending machine straws after the incident?
iJooz replaced all 500 straws located inside the machine’s storage dispenser following the contamination.
What is the maximum penalty for public nuisance in Singapore?
Offenders can face fines of up to 2.000 dolar Singapura (sekitar Rp26 juta), a prison term of up to three months, or both.
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