Police Crackdown Spreads as"Sifu" Robert McInnes is Suspected of Possessing Illegal Firearms

"Sifu" Robert McInnes, the founder of ISS Group of Companies and McInnes Corporation which has been developing condominium projects on Pratamnak Hill in Pattaya has reportedly been investigated for impersonating a SWAT police officer and possession of firearms, sources say.  

Chonburi Immigration Superintendant Police Colonel Athiwit Kamonrat's staff says immigration police searched the Yellow Hummer belonging to New Zealand national Mr. McInnes at the View Talay Condominium 3 located on Pratamnak Road at Soi 6 on Thursday afternoon and then searched his office on Pattaya Klang.

After obtaining a warrant based on a report from a Thai man the Immigration Police, who have been cracking down on numerous foreigners and are setting up an INTERPOL office in the Jomtien Soi 5 Immigration office, searched the vehicle and found automatic weapons and ammunition, a police source says.

Mr. McInnes who was at the condominium complex talked with police and showed no signs of guilt explaining that he works as an instructor for the Pattaya police on Soi 9 and was a long-time trainer of their officers in hand-to-hand combat as he is a Grandmaster of Sir Gee Dorr Kung Fu. 

He also trains the military and officers in Bangkok as numerous pictures and commendations from high-ranking police on his Pattaya Klang office wall would indicate.

Police Colonel Athiwit is continuing the investigation and giving Mr. McInnes a few days to prove that he is legally allowed to possess firearms which require a registration permit in Thailand and is seldom issued to foreigners - except in the case of active police officers and trainers, as Mr. McInnes states he is a trainer.

However, if it turns out that he is not allowed to have firearms then the consequences can be severe. A warrant will be issued on Monday for his arrest if police determine Mr. McInnes committed crimes, sources close to the investigation say.