Linux is used for very sensitive stuff. Stuff that involves a lot of money.

Messing with Linux is messing with that sensitive stuff, which means messing with important people and organizations. That is something that is very hard to get away with.

That guy just got himself into a legal supernightmare.

If someone is running a stock exchange on Linux and a guy introduces vulnerabilities on purpose, I am sure that person will be pretty upset and pursue litigation.