A person who spiked candy with sleeping medication and provided them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight minors and one adult fell ill at Stathern Lodge in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
Ruben engaged in a "sweet game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including baby oil, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson alerted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six children that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that point," she added.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior said the children were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She stated Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
