A man who spiked treats with sleeping medication and provided them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two children who were between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he stood at the courthouse on recently.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a additional proceeding on late November.
'Candy game'
The prosecutor, handling the case, detailed the defendant's actions to the court.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a youth camp which he managed.
The man played a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the man had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the man had been able to explain this repeatedly as the minors being "overstimulated by activities", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025.
The legal representative added: "Recently" his stepchild had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They chose" to examine in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his stepson alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to play the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.
"The police had not arrived by that point," she stated further.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the situation.
The legal representative stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson contacted the authorities again.
She explained the defendant then conducted the "treat game" in a space of five youngsters.
