A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The man conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had played this game with the children "for many years", and youngsters had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
