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An individual who laced candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a youth camp in the area has admitted sexual offenses against two children aged nine and ten years old.

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

The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.

However, he denied one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.

Ruben was kept in jail before a further hearing on 28 November.

'Sweet game'

The prosecutor, prosecuting, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.

She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he operated.

Ruben conducted a "sweet game" with the youngsters, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".

She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the children "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.

She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.

The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, for good reason.

"They chose" to investigate in the individual's items."

Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, ointment and medical needles were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.

She stated the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six children that night - that Saturday - and they were all sick the next day.

"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the situation.

Mrs Prior said the minors were struggling to walk due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson notified the police a second time.

She said Ruben then conducted the "candy game" in a area of five youngsters.