I'm not sure it is as nefarious as you make it out to be. Had the trial proceeded I'm not sure it would have implicated any politicians (his donations are public knowledge already). This may be a 'slight' leniency given that his guilty verdict will land him in prison for decades. Having another trial on a semi-related charge to run up the 'score' in terms of the number of years in prison is unnecessary. Isn't this also following the terms of extradition from the Bahamas?