A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has pleaded guilty to sexual offenses against two young males aged nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at Stathern Lodge in July.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the courthouse on the end of the week.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Candy game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
The man engaged in a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel explained, in which he would access the boys' rooms when they were settling down and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and children had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the children being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative continued: "This year his stepson had worries about what was going on, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the police about his suspicions.
She explained the defendant proceeded to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - July 26th - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that point," she stated further.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities once more.
She stated the man then engaged in the "candy game" in a room of five minors.
