Yes, yes, that's why I said that he was a bit heavyhanded with his actions and very easily could have taken another route, but this is the way he felt was the most effective to deal with it (whether or not he thought it was right isn't as clear since I don't think he himself knew). He had to find a way to make all the people who were rioting and reacting in such an extreme manner calm down, and making Simon a scapegoat was an effective way, as shitty as it was. Sure, he probably had other options, but it's not like he did it because he hated Simon and wanted to take over the world or anything.

He did do a lot of unnecessary things, but I don't think it was out of malice or spite, he just truly felt it was for the greater good or whatever. He just has a fucked up moral system. He's not an easily likable character, but he is a good and interesting one.