🔗 Share this article Man pleads guilty to sex offences against children at youth camp The accused admitted 17 charges at the judicial center on the end of the week An individual who laced candy with tranquilliser and distributed them to minors at a summer camp in the region has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two children aged between nine and ten. The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person became sick at the facility in July. The senior citizen, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on recently. Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a young boy. The accused was kept in jail prior to a subsequent court date on November 28th. 'Treat game' The legal representative, handling the case, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body. She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a summer program which he managed. The defendant engaged in a "treat game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel stated, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "rapidly". She told the court the man had engaged in this activity with the children "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the subsequent day. She said Ruben had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had suspicions in summer 2025. The prosecutor stated further: "Recently" his family member had concerns about the activities, for good reason. "They chose" to examine in the individual's items." The legal counsel stated objects including lubricant, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns. She said the defendant continued to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that evening - July 26th - and they were all ill the subsequent day. "The police had not responded by that stage," she continued. The police watchdog, the investigative body, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the events. Mrs Prior explained the minors were unable to walk properly due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again. She explained the man then played the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.