A person who spiked sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including infant oil, Vaseline and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained the man continued to play the "treat game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five youngsters.
