A Bundaberg court has heard a surgeon accused of a violent altercation at the city’s airport was angry, paranoid and believed he was the victim of racism.

The Bundaberg Magistrates Court heard, Kamal Praveena Galketiya, 40, refused an explosives swab at the Bundaberg airport on Friday, allegedly accusing the staff of racism.

He then allegedly became violent before stealing a security badge and access card.

Representing himself, Galketiya told the magistrate, he had been flying all his life and this was the first time an incident had occurred.

He said “it’s disgraceful” and that closed-circuit TV footage would show “what they did” to him.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens told the court, police contacted his wife, who is also a doctor, seeking an explanation for his behaviour.

Sergeant Stevens told the court, Galketiya’s wife said he was under a lot of stress, that she believed he suffered from bipolar disorder and depression and that he was angry due to medication.

He is charged with stealing and wilful damage and was bailed to appear next month.