See also “weaponized incompetence”, which usually has to do with getting out of work but in this case could easily be used to get away with “bad” work for longer.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/weaponized-incompe...
The other side of that same coin is to never admit to malice if your actions can be adequately excused by stupidity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor