A man who spiked candy with tranquilliser and gave them to children at a youth camp in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel explained, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to eat sweets "rapidly".
She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "Recently" his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and medical needles were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the events.
Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five children.
