Australian singing legend Kamahl has been charged with stalking a woman 50 years his junior.
The alleged victim, a 39-year-old woman, has applied for an apprehended violence order against the 89-year-old singer over allegations that he threatened her after lending her $2,000 to start a business in May last year.
Kamahl sent the woman the money after making an agreement with her over dinner that she would repay him $5 a week.
However, he is alleged to have become upset after the woman wrote ‘to the molester’ in the transaction description.
There is no suggestion Kamahl has committed a sex crime and he has never faced related charges.
Kamahl has been charged with one count of stalking with intent to cause fear and has a court hearing set for next month
Kamahl, who lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, now faces a charge of stalking with intent to cause fear and is due to face Sydney’s Sutherland Court on June 5.
The Malaysian-born star, whose full name is Kandiah Kamalesvaran, told Nine News that angry text exchanges between him and the alleged victim are the result of him coming off his medication.
‘I was not being unkind,’ Kamahl said.
‘I was responding to a situation without all of my faculties.’
In a text message sent to Kamahl, the woman stated: ‘I just wanted you to know your behaviour is unacceptable and you are lucky I haven’t gone to the authorities.’
Kamahl replied: ‘You are a liar and a failure and most of all an ungrateful b***h.
A money transfer made to Kamahl by his alleged stalking victim bears the description ‘To the molester’
An alleged text exchange between Kamahl and a 39-year-old woman he lent money to last year
‘The best is yet to come.’
Kamahl, whose catchphrase during his long career in showbusiness has been ‘Why are people so unkind?’, said his reaction can be explained by his age and being off his medication.
‘I am a 89-year-old man and I reacted on the spurt of the moment,’ he said.
He admitted his age did not excuse his response ‘but my mental condition at the time did’.
Kamahl then stated that he was not worried about the incident because ‘it is what it is’.
‘Any publicity is better than no publicity,’ he said.
‘I am sure about that.’
Three years ago Kamahl separated from his wife Sahodra after 55 years of marriage.
He also admitted an addiction to social media at the time.
Three years ago Kamahl separated from his wife Sahodra after 55 years of marriage
During last year’s campaigning over the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum Kamahl’s vote was wooed by both the Yes and No campaigns and he switched between supporting and opposing the measure before finally rejecting it.
After moving to Australiain in 1953, Kamahl’s singing career spanned decades with his 1975 hit The Elephant Song charting overseas.
He became a regular performer on variety shows throughout the 1980s, 1990s and into the 2000s, particularly on Channel Nine’s long-running Hey, Hey it’s Saturday where he was often the butt of the jokes that caused the program to be accused of racism.
