A person who laced treats with sleeping medication and distributed them to minors at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a series of 17 offences when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a young boy.
The accused was kept in jail prior to a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She said his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were staying at a youth camp which he ran.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and tell them to ingest treats "rapidly".
She told the court the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the next day.
She said Ruben had been capable of justifying this for many years as the children being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the situation, with valid cause.
"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including lubricant, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She stated Ruben went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so the family member notified the police again.
She said the man then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
