A man who spiked candy with sedative and gave them to minors at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the court.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben conducted a "candy game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She said Ruben proceeded to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She said the man then conducted the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
