An employee of a Harlem bodega was ordered held without bail Saturday night after being arraigned on murder charges in the stabbing of a customer.

Ahmed Hafeed’s lawyer, Micah Kwasniak, said his client was threatened by the victim, who refused to pay $1.50 for a coffee and a cigarette Friday.

He quoted Hafeed as saying, “I don’t want any problems, just give me a dollar. Here’s your coffee, here’s your cigarette.’’
At that point, Kwasniak said the victim, whose name was withheld pending family notification, took offense and threatened to return with a gun.

Surveillance video shows he did leave and come back, but was unarmed, prosecutors said.

The two struggled and both wound up on the street outside the store, A&S Candy and Grocery store on West 145th Street.

Hafeed stabbed the man approximately eight times, authorities said.

The DA’s office said that his immigration status — he’s from Yemen — is unclear.

While waiting for the arraignment, Hafeed’s father, Abdul, said his son acted in self defense.