A man who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was remanded in custody before a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed Ruben's offending to the court.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "sweet game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the man had played this game with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained items including baby oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his family member alerted the police about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member contacted the police once more.
She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a area of five youngsters.
