My personal opinion is to ALWAYS follow the law.
He may still be able to keep his job in some capacity if he at least does what the court has ordered him to do...one of those things being informing his employer.
Otherwise he is putting himself in a worse position...with more worries and legal consequences ahead.
He has to suck it up and take what is coming and he will get thru it...especially with a good friend like you,
There is something I repeat to myself: Do the RIGHT things and the RIGHT things happen.