A young Frenchman faces a prison sentence for licking a sorbet in Singapore

An 18-year-old French teenager was accused in Singapore of vandalism and disturbing public order after starring in an incident involving an orange juice vending machine that went viral on social networks.

The case generated strong public repercussions and led to legal actions and health measures on the part of the company concerned.

At the same time, the incident reflected the firmly imposed hygiene strategy created by Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore, who considered cleanliness and order as fundamental pillars for economic and social development and national identity.

According to local reports, Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien was identified as the young man who licked a sorbet from a vending machine and then put it back in the dispenser.

The incident occurred on March 12 in a shopping mall in Singapore and was recorded in a video that the teenager himself posted on his Instagram account

.

The recording, which later went viral, showed the moment of the event and was accompanied by a message that read: “The city is not safe”.

The publication generated a rapid reaction on social networks, where numerous users expressed disgust. The content was republished on community pages and later disseminated by local media.

The company iJooz, which owns the vending machine, reported that after the incident it proceeded to replace the 500 straws in the dispenser as a preventive measure. In addition, he informed Channel NewsAsia (CNA) that he filed a formal complaint with the police and initiated sanitation protocols and inspections

on the equipment involved.

Maximilien, who is currently a student at the Singapore headquarters of the Essec Business School, was at the center of the research. A spokesperson for the educational institution previously indicated that they were aware of what happened and that internal investigations were being carried out to evaluate the situation

.

At the judicial level, the young man faces charges that could lead to a significant conviction. If convicted of both crimes, he could receive a maximum sentence of more than two years in prison, in addition to fines of thousands of dollars

.

For their part, the student's lawyers informed CNA that Maximilien's parents traveled to Singapore after the incident. They also noted that a representative of their educational institution will act as a guarantor in the

judicial process.

The case will continue its course in court, where it is due to be heard again on May 22. Meanwhile, the episode continues to generate repercussions both in the judicial sphere and in public opinion, in a country known for the strict application of its rules of public order and civic conduct

.