A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two boys aged nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the judicial center on recently.
However, 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 before a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She explained his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and tell them to consume candy "rapidly".
She stated to the judge the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "repeatedly", and children had earlier experienced illness the following morning.
She stated Ruben had been able to explain this repeatedly as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had worries in recently.
The legal representative continued: "In the summer" his stepchild had suspicions about the situation, with valid cause.
"They decided to have a look in the individual's items."
The prosecutor said items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his worries.
She stated the man went on to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that night - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she stated further.
The oversight body, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The prosecutor stated the children were having difficulty walking due to being ill, so the family member called the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
