Index: lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/service/ForumService.java
===================================================================
diff -u -r846935728aaa82b2a7e3188d0dcbfc794de2187c -r2dc8798dbdb5ca91cc075dfd188c7fb6d7d6ae4c
--- lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/service/ForumService.java	(.../ForumService.java)	(revision 846935728aaa82b2a7e3188d0dcbfc794de2187c)
+++ lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/service/ForumService.java	(.../ForumService.java)	(revision 2dc8798dbdb5ca91cc075dfd188c7fb6d7d6ae4c)
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@
 import org.lamsfoundation.lams.tool.forum.util.TopicComparator;
 import org.lamsfoundation.lams.tool.service.ILamsToolService;
 import org.lamsfoundation.lams.util.MessageService;
-import org.springframework.context.support.MessageSourceAccessor;
 
 /**
  * 
@@ -151,6 +150,16 @@
         
         return message;
     }
+     
+    public Message updateMessageHideFlag(Long messageId, boolean hideFlag) {
+    	
+    	Message message = getMessage(messageId);
+    	message.setHideFlag(hideFlag);
+    	
+    	// update message
+    	messageDao.update(message);
+    	return message;
+     }
 
     public Message getMessage(Long messageUid) throws PersistenceException {
         return (Message) messageDao.getById(messageUid);
Index: lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/service/IForumService.java
===================================================================
diff -u -r640a9d5aeeb4b9794b93c5a764a9a20d4298b3d6 -r2dc8798dbdb5ca91cc075dfd188c7fb6d7d6ae4c
--- lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/service/IForumService.java	(.../IForumService.java)	(revision 640a9d5aeeb4b9794b93c5a764a9a20d4298b3d6)
+++ lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/service/IForumService.java	(.../IForumService.java)	(revision 2dc8798dbdb5ca91cc075dfd188c7fb6d7d6ae4c)
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@
      */
     public Message updateTopic(Message message) throws PersistenceException;
     /**
+     * Hide a message by given <code>Message</code> instance
+     * @param message
+     * @return
+     * @throws PersistenceException
+     */
+    public Message updateMessageHideFlag(Long messageId, boolean hideFlag) throws PersistenceException;
+    /**
      * Reply a topic.
      * @param parentId
      * @param sessionId ToolSessionID