Wellington, Nov 19 NZPA - A man who allegedly forged prison documents to rip off the Government's student loan scheme is facing a depositions hearing in Wanganui District Court this week.

Anthony Edwin Meihana Hartley, 34, is accused of running the scam involving 14 prisoners in Wanganui Prison.

The Crown alleged he forged the prison stamp and manager's signature on 14 student loan applications, stating the prisoners were eligible to study, the Wanganui Chronicle reported today.

All the funding was directed to one bank account that belonged to Hartley, who was an inmate at Wanganui Prison from September 2005 to March 2006, the Crown said.

He has been charged with 16 counts of using a false document and 10 of forging a document, from 2003 to 2006.

The depositions hearing was expected to last five days.

NZPA