A person who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained items including infant oil, Vaseline and syringes were located, and his stepchild contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said the man continued to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The prosecutor explained the children were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She stated the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
