A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were nine and 10.
The defendant was detained after eight children and one adult fell ill at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Nevertheless, he disputed one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "over an extended period", and youngsters had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She explained the man had been able to explain this for many years as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben continued to engage in the "treat game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that time," she added.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the minors were having difficulty walking due to their condition, so the stepson contacted the authorities a second time.
She stated the man then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.
