An individual who spiked sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She said the defendant went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
