This is true of course, but this is also true for the “search for truth” in science. Do we fail to point out the flaw in the reasoning of someone’s life's work for fear of offence? The truth is the higher ideal that must be strived for!
In the same way, an idea is only good once it has been challenged. It may fail and dissolve, it may survive, it may morph into something that can no longer be assailed. This is the forgers fire, and it is necessary.
I know this isn’t as black and white as I’m painting it, but the ideal is still something worth striving for.
Also, software engineering is a field where there’s rarely some ideal truth we’re trying to achieve, and indeed even in science, people do often fail to point out flaws in reasoning for fear of offense.
When your emotions over your work become more important than the quality of the work you're outputting, you become a problem for people who use your work.
No wonder they used any means necessary (including HR) to defend their source of money.
They probably knew very well they are a net loss for the company.
Lots of big orgs have such crooks. It's a failure of management not to fire them.