A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer camp in the region has admitted sexual offences against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy.
The defendant was held in detention before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he managed.
The man conducted a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "for many years", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in July 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepchild had worries about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor stated materials including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepchild alerted the police about his concerns.
She stated the man continued to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the police again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five children.
