A man who contaminated treats with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight youngsters and a grown-up experienced illness at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
The legal counsel explained materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his family member alerted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She explained the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six children that time - July 26th - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not responded by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the police again.
She said the defendant then played the "sweet game" in a space of five children.
