A man who laced sweets with sleeping medication and distributed them to youngsters at a summer program in the area has admitted sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight children and a grown-up became sick at Stathern Lodge in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a summer camp which he ran.
The defendant conducted a "sweet game" with the children, the prosecutor stated, in which he would access the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and request they to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had played this game with the young males "over an extended period", and minors had earlier experienced illness the next day.
She explained the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his family member had worries in recently.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They decided to investigate in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were located, and his family member alerted the authorities about his concerns.
She said the man went on to play the "candy game" with six boys that time - that Saturday - and they were all ill the next day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that time," she continued.
The police watchdog, the police conduct office, had stated that it was reviewing the police response of the situation.
Mrs Prior said the youngsters were having difficulty walking due to their sickness, so the family member called the law enforcement a second time.
She said the defendant then conducted the "candy game" in a room of five children.
