Former National MP Jamie Lee Ross was one of the four defendants facing Serious Fraud Office charges in the Auckland District Court last week

NewstalkZB Political editor Barry Soper was the first to name Ross as a defendant - before the defendants applied for and had their names suppressed.

That suppression has now been lifted and the other three are Chinese businessmen, Yukin Zhang and Colin and Joe Zheng, who say they've supported groups over many years - including making donations to many political parties.

The charges related to two donations of a hundred thousand, one made under Bill English's leadership and the other under Simon Bridges.