A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, presenting evidence, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She stated to the judge Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She stated Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had worries about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor explained objects including baby oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were found, and his stepson alerted the police about his worries.
She said the defendant continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
The legal representative stated the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a room of five children.
