A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The elderly man, from that region, admitted guilt to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was accused of, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.
The defendant was kept in jail prior to a further hearing on late November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, outlined the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would enter the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and request they to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the next day.
She said the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his stepchild had concerns about the activities, justifiably.
"They decided to examine in the individual's items."
The legal counsel said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were found, and his stepchild notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained Ruben continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the investigative body, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the law enforcement a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
