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A man who laced candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two children aged between nine and ten.

The defendant was arrested after eight children and an older person experienced illness at Stathern Lodge in July.

The 76-year-old, from that region, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he appeared at the judicial center on Friday.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was concerning a nine-year-old child.

The defendant was remanded in custody prior to a further hearing on 28 November.

'Treat game'

Mary Prior KC, presenting evidence, detailed the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.

She stated his targets were disadvantaged youngsters who were attending a youth camp which he ran.

The man played a "treat game" with the children, the legal counsel said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to ingest treats "as quickly as they can".

She stated to the judge Ruben had played this game with the boys "repeatedly", and youngsters had previously become sick the subsequent day.

She stated the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this for many years as the youngsters being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had suspicions in July 2025.

The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the activities, with valid cause.

"They resolved" to have a look in the individual's items."

Mrs Prior KC said objects including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were discovered, and his stepchild alerted the law enforcement about his suspicions.

She said Ruben continued to conduct the "candy game" with six youngsters that evening - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the following morning.

"The police had not responded by that time," she stated further.

The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating law enforcement's management of the incident.

Mrs Prior stated the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member notified the authorities a second time.

She explained Ruben then played the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.