A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his family member had worries about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man continued to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She stated the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
