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A person who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two children aged between nine and ten.

The defendant was taken into custody after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the facility in the summer month.

The 76-year-old, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on Friday.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.

The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on November 28th.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She said his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.

Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".

She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the boys "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.

She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.

The legal representative continued: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about what was going on, for good reason.

"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."

The legal counsel explained objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were found, and his stepchild alerted the authorities about his concerns.

She said Ruben went on to conduct the "treat game" with six youngsters that night - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day.

"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.

The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was examining the police response of the situation.

Mrs Prior said the minors were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the stepson contacted the police a second time.

She explained the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.