An June 12, 2001, Salvatore Molinari was suddenly in a hurry to reach his friend the judge. Around noon he called the district court, under a false name, and asked for the direct number. But nobody picked up. He tried the judge at home, again in court. He then called one of his restaurants and told the staff to contact him immediately if the judge showed up there. He consulted a business partner on the phone, who also emphasized once again how important it was that things went quickly now.
Salvatore Molinari (not his real name) was a respected restaurateur in Erfurt. Within a few years, he and his Calabrian partners had opened several restaurants, one of them right next to the town hall, in one of the most beautiful historic buildings in the city. The Italians were popular, prominent figures from Erfurt frequented them, as did the prime minister and his interior minister. But her good reputation was apparently in danger.