An individual who laced sweets with tranquilliser and provided them to youngsters at a youth camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males both nine and 10.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he disputed one particular crime he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She explained the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained objects including lubricant, Vaseline and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the police about his concerns.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six children that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not responded by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the situation.
The legal representative explained the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then played the "treat game" in a space of five minors.
