The Serious Fraud Office filed criminal charges today against four people in relation to donations paid into a National Party electorate bank account.

The defendants are scheduled to appear in the Auckland District Court on 25 February.

The SFO will not make any further comment until any name suppression issues have been dealt with.

National leader Simon Bridges, who has not been charged, has denied any wrongdoing over how the party has handled donations. (Photo / Paul Taylor)

In March last year, Police referred Jamie Ross' complaint about National's election donations to the Serious Fraud Office.

Ross, who was kicked out of the National Party last year, lodged a complaint with police in October.

At the time he went to the Police over, alleged donation fraud in which he claimed Bridges was "corrupt politician with no moral compass".

He claimed Bridges had asked him to collect a $100,000 donation from businessman Yikun Zhang which was then split into smaller amounts to hide it.
This is a breach of the electoral law.

National leader Simon Bridges has denied any wrongdoing over how the party has handled donations.

In March statement, the Police said: "Police have referred to the Serious Fraud Office a complaint received in October last year in relation to the disclosure of political donations under the Electoral Act."

"The complaint has been referred to the SFO as they hold the appropriate mandate to look further into matters raised by the investigation to date."

The Serious Fraud Office investigates serious or complex fraud.

It prioritises cases where those allegedly involved are in important positions of trust, or where there are allegations of bribery and corruption.

In a statement, the National Party said neither leader Simon Bridges or the party itself
have been charged following an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.

"I have always maintained. As I have always said the allegations against both myself and the Party were baseless and false," Bridges says.

"This was always just a vendetta by a disgruntled former MP."

"I have always been confident in the way the Party receives and declares donations," said General Manager Greg Hamilton.

"We are happy to put this matter behind us and will not be making any other comment."