An individual who laced sweets with sedative and gave them to children at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She explained the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member contacted the authorities a second time.
She explained the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
