They wanted it to look like they were doing it SO legit that even the galactics accepted it. Hence using hir face as the "poster-person" for it. And, likely, someone to blame when the "study didn't work". Or, more likely, when they were found out by the rest of their polity, "The galactic FORCED us to do it." You know, the usual lies and excuses beings like the dereggers use to try to avoid being prosecuted for their crimes.