As much as I doubt that it was a direct order, isn't Apple one of the 22 tech companies who advise the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team who brought down the door of Chen's house? I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but its obvious that this is what Apple wanted.
Its also obvious to me that it was that Apple is the enormous power that it is that pushed them to do this; all the iphones that have been lost and tracked my mobileme where police even then wouldn't lift a finger to get them back to their owner in the past, much less send out a "Computer Team" to search and seize in attempt to prosecute after it was returned to its owner is plenty of evidence. They did send Apple representatives to try to enter and search the residence of the kid who found it as well.
I think Apple is going to find this to be worse PR then firing the employee that lost it would have been by far. If Apple is the one that lost the phone and someone releases that info (which I don't believe should be illegal as long as its not slander), is Apple's own mistake of losing it going to be factored into the sum they ask from Giz for their ensuing financial suffering?