An individual who contaminated candy with sedative and provided them to youngsters at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined Ruben's offending to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to consume candy "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the defendant had been able to explain this for many years as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his stepson had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said materials including baby oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the man continued to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she added.
The regulatory agency, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating the police response of the situation.
The legal representative stated the children were struggling to walk due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five youngsters.
