Melbourne, Aug 14 - A law lecturer at Melbourne's Victoria University is alleged to have solicited and received 'bribes in the form of sexual favours and money from some female Asian international students' to improve their marks, a media report said Friday.

The 46-year-old is later believed to have taken his own life, apparently overdosing on prescription drugs at his home at Footscray here, The Australian reported.

The man was a subject coordinator in the Faculty of Business and Law and was based at the university's Footscray campus, where he taught law to students of accountancy and business -- subjects in high demand among international students.

The police were preparing a brief including 10 bribery charges when they contacted the man in early May. They asked him to go to a police station. Two days after the call he was found dead.

His death and the bribery allegations have stunned colleagues at the varsity, where he had taught for several years.

'I was shocked and bewildered,' a former colleague told The Australian. 'He was a great colleague.'

It is believed the university uncovered the allegations in December and immediately referred them to police. The man was immediately stood down but staff were told he had resigned. They were later told he had died.

It is understood the Asian students themselves were never considered suspects in the investigation, instead being treated as victims, the report said.