🔗 Share this article Person pleads guilty to sexual offenses against young males at youth camp The defendant admitted 17 charges at the judicial center on recently An individual who contaminated sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual crimes against two boys both between nine and ten. The defendant was arrested after eight children and a grown-up became sick at the location in July. The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday. Nevertheless, he denied a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy. Ruben was kept in jail ahead of a additional proceeding on November 28th. 'Candy game' Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, outlined the criminal behavior to the court. She said his victims were under-privileged children who were staying at a youth camp which he managed. Ruben engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as quickly as they can". She stated to the judge the defendant had conducted this practice with the boys "over an extended period", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day. She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had concerns in summer 2025. Mrs Prior KC continued: "Recently" his stepchild had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably. "They decided to have a look in the individual's items." The prosecutor explained materials including infant oil, ointment and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his suspicions. She explained the man went on to play the "sweet game" with six children that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day. "The police had not gone out by that stage," she stated further. The police watchdog, the police conduct office, earlier informed that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events. The prosecutor said the youngsters were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so the family member called the law enforcement once more. She said the man then played the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.