The men at centre of donation row

Name suppression for Jami-Lee Ross and his co-accused Zhang Yikun, Zheng Shijia, and Zheng Hengjia was lifted by the Auckland District Court on Wednesday.

Zhang Yikun and Zheng Shijia’s names entered the public arena in October 2018, when Jami-Lee Ross alleged Zhang Yikun made a $100,000 donation to the National Party that was then broken into smaller pieces so it didn’t need to be declared.

That case was referred to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which last month said it would press charges against the three men and Ross himself.

The charges relate to donations made to the National Party Botany Electorate. One of $100,000 in 2017 and another of $100,050 in 2018.

All parties have maintained innocence since the allegations surfaced in 2018. Bridges denied any ‘‘corruption’’ and other wrongdoing with the National party’s returns. Ross maintains he is innocent.

Through a spokesperson, the other three accused said they ‘‘believe they are casualties of the turmoil created through mudslinging during the high-profile fallout following Jami-Lee Ross’ revelations and allegations about the National Party.’’

They will be defending the charges.

Zhang Yikun is a well-known figure in some parts of the New Zealand Chinese community. He is particularly well-known for his philanthropy.

Before moving to New Zealand in 2000 Zhang lived in Guandong Province, China and served in the military.

He founded the Chao Shan General Association of New Zealand to support Chinese migrants.

Chao Shan has continued its philanthropy, despite the attention heaped upon it by the Ross scandal. Last year it donated $2.1 million to the Christchurch Foundation, a charity established to help people affected by the March 15 mosque attacks, and purchase new ambulances for St John.

Chinese dissident and journalist Chen Weijian gave his views to Stuff last year and said although charitable donations may seem politically untied, ‘‘they are actually a strategic infiltration’’.

Some members of the Muslim community urged the donations to be returned, citing China’s prosecution of Muslim Uighurs in China. Roughly a million Uighurs have been detained in Xinjiang Province.

Another accused, Zheng Shijia, also known as Colin Zheng, is a business partner of Zhang Yikun. He is a trustee of the Chao San organisation. He also took part in National’s candidate’s college, a course for prospective National MPs.

Zheng Hengjia is less well known.

The case is not expected in court until next year, meaning it won’t be heard before the election on September 19.