I don't know the details of the case. In the UK when a company goes bust there is a pecking order of creditors. The government heads the list for taxes and general suppiers and trade debts are down at the bottom. Staff salaries and director remunerations are in there somewhere. So it is possible that a company has enough to clear some of its obligations (ie salaries) but not all. If the monies to be paid were not in line with the job and seniority and seemed artificially inflated then the authorities would step in and criminal charges could be brought.