An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two children who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC stated objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions.
She stated Ruben went on to engage in the "sweet game" with six children that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
