The High Court has found former National MP Jami-Lee Ross not guilty on fraud charges relating to donations made to the National Party.
However, Justice Ian Gault found his co-accused Yikun Zhang, Shijia (Colin) Zheng and Hengjia (Joe) Zheng guilty.
Mr Ross was charged by the Serious Fraud Office after alleging then-National leader Simon Bridges has given advice on how a $100,000 donation could be broken up into smaller chunks so it could be made anonymously.
Stuff reported that Mr Ross told Mr Bridges Zhang wants a royal honour.
In September 2018 Zhang was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to New Zealand-China relations and the Chinese community.
