An individual who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up fell ill at the facility in July.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "This year his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild contacted the police about his worries.
She explained the man went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
The legal representative said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
