FORMER ISRAELI TV star Dudu Topaz, who earlier this week admitted to hiring thugs to attack television executives, tried to take his own life yesterday in jail.
Prison wardens discovered Topaz lying unconscious on the floor of his cell with four insulin syringes by his side. The fallen star, who suffers from diabetes, was given first-aid and taken to hospital, where he is recovering.
The previous day Topaz, who originally denied the allegations against him, spoke briefly to reporters on his way to jail and expressed regret over his actions.
“I told the truth and it feels good,” he said. “I’m first and foremost at peace with myself . . . I don’t know what was happening to me at the time, what craziness got into my head. I hate myself for getting to where I was.”
Topaz, dubbed “king of the ratings” in the 1990s when he hosted a series of successful chat and game shows, was arrested on Sunday. On Tuesday he admitted to paying a neighbour the equivalent of €30,000 to hire two thugs who brutally attacked two TV executives and an agent after his proposal for a comeback show was turned down.
Police suspect he was planning attacks on four others.