A person who laced treats with sedative and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the area has confessed to sexual crimes against two young males both nine and 10.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and one adult experienced illness at the facility in July.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he refused to admit one particular crime he was facing, which was against a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention before a further hearing on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, detailed Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She said his victims were under-privileged children who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben played a "sweet game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and children had previously become sick the following morning.
She said Ruben had been able to explain this over a long period as the minors being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in July 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about what was going on, for good reason.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and syringes were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his worries.
She said the defendant went on to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Law enforcement" had not arrived by that time," she added.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so Ruben's stepson called the police a second time.
She stated the defendant then engaged in the "treat game" in a room of five minors.
