A man who contaminated sweets with tranquilliser and gave them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were between nine and ten.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
The defendant was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th.
'Candy game'
Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his those affected were under-privileged children who were attending a youth camp which he ran.
The defendant engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the sleeping quarters when they were getting ready for bed and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She stated to the judge the man had conducted this practice with the young males "over an extended period", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor continued: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to investigate in the individual's items."
The prosecutor explained objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and medical needles were located, and his stepson contacted the authorities about his concerns.
She stated the man proceeded to conduct the "candy game" with six boys that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the next day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that stage," she added.
The oversight body, the investigative body, had stated that it was examining law enforcement's management of the incident.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson called the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then played the "candy game" in a area of five children.
