A man who contaminated sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual offenses against two young males who were nine and 10.
The accused was arrested after eight minors and an older person fell ill at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
Yet, he denied one of the sexual offences he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The accused was held in detention prior to a further hearing on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer program which he ran.
The man engaged in a "sweet game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She stated the defendant had been capable of justifying this repeatedly as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "Recently" his family member had suspicions about the activities, for good reason.
"They chose" to investigate in the man's possessions."
The prosecutor explained materials including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were discovered, and his stepson contacted the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to engage in the "treat game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were all sick the subsequent day.
"The police had not arrived by that time," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was examining the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
