Singapore iJooz straw licking case: Teen set to plead guilty over viral vending machine stunt

SINGAPORE, June 26 — A teenager accused of allegedly licking a straw from a vending machine before returning it to the dispenser is expected to plead guilty next month.

According to The Straits Times, the 19-year-old French national was charged in April with mischief and public nuisance over the incident, which allegedly took place at Goldhill Centre along Thomson Road in March.

Court documents state that the accused, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, is said to have licked a straw taken from an iJooz vending machine before placing it back into the straw compartment.

He allegedly recorded the act and uploaded the video on social media, where it later went viral and sparked widespread public concern.

The court heard that iJooz, known for its orange juice vending machines, was forced to replace all 500 straws in the dispenser following the incident.

The video reportedly surfaced on March 12 and quickly spread online.

He is expected to plead guilty on July 13.

If convicted of mischief, he faces up to two years’ jail, a fine, or both. For public nuisance, he may be jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$2,000 (RM6,330), or both.