To be frank, it does not really matter if it is pure malevolence or not. I am to be honest a bit more stringent than many of my colleagues, but even if I do not hold everyone to my standards I expect my fellow scientists to have high enough standards so that I can read (and most importantly trust) their writing and findings with confidence. Yes, the pressure to publish is insane and even more so in some countries than others (curse those in positions of power that cause this), but as it is impossible to verify every written statement or finding in any science, we must rely highly on honesty and high standards to maintain trust whether we want it or not as there is not (and should not) be a central point of authority to dictate good science. If we fail to do so – regardless whether by malevolence or not – we will be lost as our mode of consensus and communication will sooner or later be in tatters. Thus, screw behaviour like this, it should not happen and the senior academics on that paper should call for its retraction until it is in a state where it can be consumed by the community.