West Ruimveldt gold miner remanded on gun, drug charges

A 28-year-old gold miner from West Ruimveldt, who has had several brushes with the law, was on Friday remanded to prison after appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on firearm and narcotics charges.
The accused, Travis Allen of Lot 9 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, stood before Magistrate Annette Singh, where he pleaded not guilty to two charges brought against him.
The court heard that on September 23, at Charlestown, Georgetown, Allen was allegedly found with 4.5 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. A second charge alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he was in possession of a Glock 9mm pistol and a matching magazine without being the holder of a firearm licence.
The prosecutor’s facts stated that the items were discovered in a strap bag Allen had slung across his shoulder. The court was also told that Allen committed the offence while already out on bail for an abduction case, which raised further objections to him being released. According to the prosecutor, ballistic testing has been completed, and the state is ready to proceed to trial.
Allen’s attorney, Damian DaSilva, argued that the circumstances surrounding his client’s arrest were questionable. He told the court that Allen had just collected a vehicle from a car wash on Russell Street when he was intercepted by three Police patrols. The ranks conducted a search, which his client allowed, but Allen was removed from the vehicle and was only later shown the firearm and narcotics at the Ruimveldt Police Station.
DaSilva further stressed that Allen denied ownership of the items during a video-recorded interview and contended that the prosecution will have to prove actual possession. He also noted that there was no video footage linking his client directly to the weapon or the drugs.
Magistrate Singh, after hearing submissions, asked that the Police officers involved produce their body camera footage to the court on the next hearing date. Bail was denied, and Allen was remanded until October 10, 2025.
Allen is no stranger to the courtroom. Just last year, in October 2024, Allen was one of seven men charged with the abduction of Joshua David, also known as “Bricks”. He and the others were accused of snatching David outside a restaurant on Main Street, Georgetown, with the intent to confine him. Despite Police producing CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, Allen and his co-accused were each granted $500,000 bail. At the time of his latest arrest, Allen was still out on bail for that kidnapping case, and up to this day, David remains missing.
In 2019, Allen, then 22, appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty for allegedly robbing a woman outside the Rio Night Club in Queenstown. Reports stated that Allen attacked the victim, dealt her several blows, and relieved her of a cell phone and cash before escaping. Though prosecutors objected, Allen was granted $150,000 bail and ordered to lodge his passport with the court. It is still unclear what the outcome of that matter is.