This trial is a bit of a summary of the problem Italy has with rules. Usually, often wrongly and somtimes rightly myriads of rules are sidestepped and soften in daily use and not too rigidly enforced. On other occasions they are taken as a judical weapon. Even a honest guy can have a hard time to avoid any error when dealing with our terribly complicated laws and if there is a combination of interest and power it can have dire consequences.

In this case I get the feeling that some had to be the scapegoat and it is certainly not the first time it happened. The result are often surprisingly harsh punishment, especially compared to the usual stuff.