An individual who laced sweets with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
The accused was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the court.
She said his targets were under-privileged children who were staying at a summer camp which he managed.
The man played a "sweet game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel explained items including baby oil, ointment and syringes were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, previously told that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson called the police again.
She stated the man then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
