SINGAPORE – A teenager accused of licking a straw from a vending machine before putting it back has been allowed to leave Singapore for a school-related trip to the Philippines in May.On April 29, a district court approved Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien’s application to leave the country to go to Manila for a “field experience”.The trip is a requirement for him to graduate, said defence lawyer Kanthan Raghavendra from Kalidass Law Corporation.The 18-year-old French national, who is a student at ESSEC Business School located at one-north, is expected to be away from May 2 to 25.Among his conditions, he has to remain contactable by the investigating officer (IO).Maximilien must also surrender his passport to the IO, or an officer acting under the latter’s direction, within 24 hours upon returning to Singapore.An additional bail of $5,000 has to be provided and a school representative has agreed to be his bailor.His case will be mentioned again in court on May 29.On April 24, Maximilien was charged with committing mischief and being a public nuisance. Read more