A person who contaminated candy with sedative and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The accused was detained after eight youngsters and one adult became sick at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Treat game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in recently.
The prosecutor continued: "Recently" his stepchild had concerns about the situation, for good reason.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including infant oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated Ruben proceeded to play the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"The police had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were struggling to walk due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then played the "treat game" in a area of five children.
