An individual who spiked candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the court.
She stated his targets were under-privileged children who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court the man had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the minors being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had suspicions in recently.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to investigate in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including baby oil, Vaseline and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his suspicions.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that stage," she continued.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the incident.
The legal representative stated the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities once more.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
