BEIJING (AP) -- China’s supreme court on Friday overturned the death sentence of an ex-tycoon who was convicted of illegally raising money for her business in a case that prompted a public outcry.

The Supreme People’s Court said it was sending 31-year-old Wu Ying back for retrial in her home province of Zhejiang in China’s southeast.

Wu was known for a rags-to-riches story in which she built up a multimillion-dollar business. State media praised her as an example to Chinese female entrepreneurs. But she later was convicted of illegally raising 750 million yuan ($120 million) from investors in 2005-07.

Wu’s penalty prompted an outcry on Internet bulletin boards by supporters who said it was too severe in a system in which corrupt Communist Party officials often escape punishment.