Legendary singer Kamahl will face a Sydney court on a charge of stalking and intimidating behaviour towards a woman to whom he says he loaned money.
The 89-year-old entertainer became the centre of a NSW Police investigation into text messages he sent a 38-year-old woman. The singer, born Kandiah Kamalesvaran in Malaysia, told Nine News he had loaned the woman money for a business.
Kamahl has been charged with stalking and intimidating behaviour towards a woman.Credit: Nine News
It’s alleged the pair had dinner in May last year when she asked for business funding.
Nine News reported the woman received a $2000 loan from the singer, which she agreed to repay in $5 instalments. Kamahl claims the woman referred to him as a “molester” in one transaction description.
There is no suggestion that Kamahl has committed any sex-related crime.
He claimed he had recently stopped taking medication as reasoning for a text exchange in which he swore at the woman and called her a liar, warning her “the best is yet to come”, Nine News reported.
Kamahl performing at Carols By Candlelight in 1984 at King Edward Park in Newcastle, NSW.Credit: Fairfax
“I was not being unkind. I was responding to a situation without all of my faculties,” he said. “I’m an 89-year-old man and I reacted at the spur of the moment.
“I’m not worried, meaning that it is what it is, but any publicity is better than no publicity.”
A police spokesperson confirmed Kamahl had been issued a court attendance notice on April 30 after an investigation into the text messages. He will face one count of stalking and intimidation at Sutherland Local Court on June 5.
An apprehended violence order was applied for by police on behalf of the complainant, and will be heard at the same court on June 7.
The veteran entertainer was a frequent guest on Hey Hey It’s Saturday and had hits with the singles Sounds of Goodbye and The Elephant Song.
He made headlines during the Voice to parliament debate when he took to social media platform X to share his views on the matter, flipping between supporting the Yes and No campaigns.
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