Conversation so far:
Why was Erich Mielke imprisoned?
Mielke was arrested and prosecuted for the murders of Captains Anlauf and Lenck.
Was Erich Mielke found guilty?
Erich Mielke was convicted on two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.
Was Erich Mielke ever jailed?
On 26 October 1993, a panel of three judges and two jurors sentenced him to six years' imprisonment.
Was Erich Mielke released from prison?
Mielke was released early due to ill health.
What other reason did they have for releasing Erich Mielke from prison besides health reasons?
In 1995, parole officers and Mielke's attorneys argued that he was totally confused and obtained his release.
Could you give me more information about Erich Mielke's imprisonment besides when he was imprisoned and released please?
At 87 years of age, Erich Mielke was Germany's oldest prison inmate and had been incarcerated for 1,904 days.

Question: Why did he give him the telephone?
Self-contained rewrite: Why did officers at JVA Moabit corrections give Erich Mielke the red telephone?