An individual who contaminated treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "sweet game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not gone out by that time," she stated further.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson notified the authorities again.
She said Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
