An Alabama nurse who was on a humanitarian mission in Macedonia is now awaiting a judge's ruling after she was arrested and tried for allegedly stealing rare coins.
Candi Dunlap, of Meridian, Ala., was arrested on Sept. 28 at Macedonia's airport after the coins were found in her carry-on luggage, the Clarion Ledger reported.
The judge had been expected to rule Friday but delayed her decision until next Wednesday.
Others on the mission trip with Dunlap insisted she was given the coins as a thank you from a Macedonian and that she had no idea they were not to be taken from the country.
U.S. lawmakers representing Meridian have been hopeful she will be released.
"I am hopeful that there will be a resolution to this soon that will allow Candi to return home," Rep. Gregg Harper said Thursday. "We know that this has been an extreme hardship on Candi and her family."
In Washington, the State Department said U.S. Embassy officials in Macedonia have been visiting with Dunlap regularly to ensure she is well treated.
Dunlap's husband, Marc, is also in Macedonia trying to secure her release. He has been posting updates on a Facebook page dedicated to her freedom.
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