Australian singing legend Kamahl has been accused of harassing a woman 50 years his junior.
The alleged victim, a 39-year-old woman, has requested an arrest warrant for violence against the 89-year-old singer over accusations that he threatened her after lending her $2,000 to start a business in May of last year.
Kamahl sent the money to the woman after making an agreement with her over dinner that he would pay her back five dollars a week.
However, he is alleged to have become upset after the woman wrote “to the abuser” in the description of the transaction.
There is no suggestion that Kamahl committed a sex crime and he has never faced related charges.
Kamahl has been charged with one count of harassment with intent to cause fear and has a court hearing scheduled 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 appear at Sydney’s Sutherland Court on June 5.
The Malaysian-born star, whose full name is Kandiah Kamalesvaran, told Nine News that the angry text message exchanges between him and the alleged victim are a result of him going off his medication.
“I wasn’t being nasty,” Kamahl said.
“I was responding to a situation without all my faculties.”
In a text message sent to Kamahl, the woman said, “I just wanted to let you know that your behavior is unacceptable and that you are lucky I didn’t go to the authorities.”
Kamahl responded: ‘You are a liar and a failure and, above all, an ungrateful bitch.
A money transfer made to Kamahl from her alleged harassment victim is described as “To the abuser.”
An alleged text message 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 show business has been “Why are people so cruel?”, said his reaction can be explained by his age and not taking medication.
“I’m an 89-year-old man and I reacted in the moment,” he said.
He admitted that his age did not excuse his response, “but my mental condition at the time did.”
Kamahl later stated that he was not worried about the incident because “it is what it is.”
“Any publicity is better than none,” he said.
“I’m sure of that.”
Three years ago Kamahl separated from his wife Sahodra after 55 years of marriage.
He also admitted to a social media addiction at the time.
Three years ago Kamahl separated from his wife Sahodra after 55 years of marriage.
During last year’s campaign on the Indigenous Voice referendum to Parliament, Kamahl’s vote was courted by the Yes and No campaigns and he went from supporting to opposing the measure before finally rejecting it.
After moving to Australia in 1953, Kamahl’s singing career spanned decades and her 1975 hit, The Elephant Song, charted overseas.
He became a regular performer on variety shows during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, particularly on Channel Nine’s long-running show Hey, Hey it’s Saturday, where he was often the butt of jokes. which caused the program to be accused of racism.