A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has admitted sexual crimes against two young males aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepson had concerns about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including lubricant, Vaseline and injection devices were found, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "treat game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
