A French social media influencer, Ilan M., known online as Amine Mojito, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison—six of which are suspended—for a series of controversial prank videos involving fake syringe injections. The 27-year-old has also been fined Rs 1.56 lakh ($1,760) and banned from owning or carrying a weapon for three years.

The videos, posted in June shortly before the Fête de la Musique (World Music Day), showed Mojito pretending to inject unsuspecting members of the public with empty syringes, capturing their shocked reactions. The clips went viral amid widespread panic in France over reported needle attacks at student parties and festivals.

Prosecutors argued that Mojito’s stunts could have encouraged the needle attack phenomenon. “His actions amounted to harassment and deliberate provocation,” one prosecutor said, calling him a “public menace.”

Mojito defended the videos as harmless entertainment, expressing regret during the trial. “I had the very bad idea of doing these pranks by imitating what I saw on the internet, in Spain, in Portugal. I didn’t think it could hurt people… I thought about myself, not others,” he said.

The six-month prison term has sparked public outrage, with social media users criticizing the sentence as too lenient. Comments ranged from likening the prank to firing a blank gun at someone to warnings that the punishment offered little deterrent against future stunts.

Mojito is expected to serve his sentence unless he appeals.